Nōtan in Art: An Intro to the Japanese Concept of Composition

“Nōtan” is a Japanese word artists use to describe the harmonious balance between dark shapes and patterns of light in works of art. By acquainting yourself with the dark-light principles of nōtan, you can practice good painting fundamentals, enhance three-dimensional massing in architectural design, or develop an appreciation of tone and shade in the fine arts.

Nōtan studies remain one of the most important principles of art lesson plans—for example, to teach middle school and high school students the balance between negative shapes and positive space. In a comprehensive art education, these art lessons go beyond the creation of simple cut-paper designs using black paper and white paper. Nōtan projects can teach students spatial awareness and the importance of composition in art and design.

The Japanese term “nōtan” describes a balance of light and dark elements in terms of composition. Visual artists and calligraphers have used Japanese nōtan designs in their work for hundreds of years. For example, the notable Japanese artist Kanō Sansetsu used nōtan design principles in the seventeenth century to paint his landscapes of the Japanese countryside.

In the mid-nineteenth century, Japan opened its ports to the rest of the world, which allowed for the global dissemination of numerous Japanese concepts and inventions.

Massachussetsan Arthur Wesley Dow—an early twentieth-century artist and educator—learned of nōtan during his travels and is partly responsible for introducing the Japanese design concept to the Western world. Dow wrote about nōtan in his groundbreaking book Composition (1899), which influenced other notable artists of the twentieth century and continues to impact artists to this day.

Beginners and professionals can use nōtan to plan the composition of their art projects. Consider the following tips for implementing nōtan design:

1. 1. Complete a two-value study of a famous work of art. Identify a well-known work that uses interesting patterns of shadow or dramatic lighting. Begin by outlining the shaded sections in a sketchbook. As you outline, attempt to flatten the depth of the art, creating a two-dimensional balance between positive and negative space—a yin and yang symbol is an example of this. By reducing a complex piece to fewer than three values and subtracting the enhancements of mid-tone hues and colors, you can better understand the effects of light and shadow.
2. 2. Practice nōtan work with diverse mediums. When you practice nōtan principles in different mediums, it will broaden your utilization of light and form in each one. Begin with a simple still life watercolor tutorial to develop painting fundamentals with soft brushes and stationary objects. To challenge yourself further, take your canvas outdoors and attempt to create a two-value, plein air landscape painting in acrylic paint. An outdoor nōtan study is exceptionally challenging due to the constantly changing conditions of light and shadow as the weather shifts.
3. 3. Use digital tools to filter light or define negative space in an image. Technology can help you learn nōtan principles in art. Using an application, remove all color and definition from a photo or work of art. Then raise the contrast until all that remains are dark shapes and a white backdrop. Study these figures to deduce what elements are essential to illustrate the story of your scene. Once you eliminate or erase unnecessary elements, reduce the size of your image to a small thumbnail. If the remaining dark shapes still hold meaning in the overall composition of the piece, your art is balanced.

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