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The Grid History, Use and Meaning

• by Jack Williamson

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In advertising, grid becomes symbol of field of
consciousness.
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Symbolic Implications of the Grid

• The grid established a visual relationship
  between depicted objects and events, removed
  from one another in space and time but
  spiritually linked by God.

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Late Medieval Grid

• Point-basedIntersection-basedThe cross as
  grid(superphysical above, material below)focus
  on eyes (meditation)Religious content

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Point-based GridsMatthias Grunewald,
Crucifixion, 1512-1515
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The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, 1495
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The Assumption and Consecration of the Virgin,
Titian, 1516-1518
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Renaissance Cartesian

• Transition from point-based to field base
• Transition from sacred to secular content
• Des Cartes, French philosopher mathematician
• Human reason valued over divine revelation
• Science, rational mind
• Foundations of analytical geometry
• Grid represents process of rational thinking
• Deism idea that logic of nature demonstrates
  Gods existence

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The Arrival and Reception of Marie de Medici of
Marseilles, 1621-1625
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Raft of Medusa, Theodore Gericault, 1819July 2,
1816 the French frigate Medusa wrecked off
African coast.Senior officers left the crew.
After 12 days, 15 had survived.
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Liberty Leading the People, Eugene Delacroix, 1830
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Death of Socrates, Drawing for the Painting,
Jacques Louis David, 1787
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Death of Socrates (Painting) Jacques Louis David,
1787
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The Modern Grid

• Grid as contentUse of Geometric
  ShapesDeco/Bauhaus TrendsCubism

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Piet Mondrian, Composition in Blue, Red and
Yellow, 1930
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Postmodern Grid

• Grid is established, then violated
• Grid may become design element itself
• Chaotic sense of universe
• Antirationality, nihilism, irrationality

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David Carson, Art Director
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Page from Urban Diary by Joseph Squier, 1995