There are various ways for artists and musicians to express their feelings in their work.  An artist might make use of color or texture in their work, while a musician might use sound or lyrics to convey a message.  However, both the artists and the musicians will use lines to show what they are feeling.

 

An artist will use lines in their artwork to captivate and show various emotions.  Short lines in a painting may represent energy and noise, while short lines in music represent short rhythms and are staccato.  An example of this choppy rhythm is in Brahm's "Capriccio".  Lines can also imply movement.  Spiral and wavy lines represent movement as in Van Gogh's picture "Cypresses With Two Women".  He uses wavy lines to indicate the movement of the trees.  Wavy lines in Chopin's harp excerpt allows the listener to feel as if the piece is going somewhere.  "The Raft of Medussa" and Lizst's concerto make good use of diagonal lines, which represent movement, energy, tension, and emotions.  Horizontal lines convey a completely different meaning that diagonal lines.  Horizontal lines represent easy movement, ease, and rest.  The "Biglin Brothers Racing" used horizontal lines in the water and boat to imply ease and rest in the picture.  A musical example of relaxation and ease is heard in the Gregorian Chant excerpt.

 

Lines represent many different emotions and can imply many things.  However, there is more than one type of line.  There are actual and implied lines.  Actual lines are lines that are truly drawn.  An artist can use implied lines by creating shapes without actually drawing them.  Lines are like words in a way.  You can create a feeling with lines the same way you can create a feeling with sentences.  Artists and musicians are very clever in the way that they make use of lines in their artwork and music.  The use of lines as well as color, shape, and texture allows an artist or musician to express themselves in an original, unique manner.