Pictorial Space throughout Art History: Cézanne and ... - ARAS

ARAS Connections Issue 2, 2012
likewise individual because it is organized around its inner demands, not around
preconceived or imposed ideas.
With such development, the parts of a person tend to be in better
proportion: feeling life, ambition, and creative play tend to occupy a more
balanced proportion of the whole. “Henry” had taken low-paid work at a social
service agency in order to immigrate. His position made him depressed and
angry. During his analysis he obtained a Ph.D. and began to direct successful
documentary films. This required that he enlarge his self confidence; in film
making the director has to dominate. His self confidence had been
disproportionately small, out of relationship with his innately bigger personality.
Likewise, when Sam (who had four children) cultivated his feelings they came to
occupy a more proportionate part of his personality. I have shown that a plastic
painting depends upon the parts being in proportion (see Proportionality).
The developing personality becomes more expansive, pushing out to
occupy all available space. We say that a person is not “narrow”, “shallow”,
“pinched”, “contracted” or “small,” but “broad”, “deep”, or “big” |6| |7| |8| |63|.
As Henry (the filmmaker) realized more of his potential his personality became
wider and deeper. He accomplished more and understood himself better. He
could give more to others because he felt richer, accept others more because he
could accept more of himself. In the same way a plastic painting feels expansive
rather than cramped (see Pictorial Space).
Individuation makes a person stronger. Wendy's writing career demanded
hard work. Henry became more assertive through directing. Sam's family life
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