Figure Drawing: Drawing Contour Cross Sections in Figure Drawing

Contour cross section lines superimposed on an image from a Postcard of Galathée by the French Sculptor Laurent-Honoré Marqueste in the Musée du Luxembourg. When doing your drawing pay attention to the curve of the form, but also to the perspective of the form and the what the plane of the cross section would be if a cross section was actually made.

Here is a diagram for an exercise in free-hand drawing of geometrical shapes from Free Hand Drawing, Light and Shade and Free Hand Perspective by Anson K. Cross that shows what cross sections of a column look like at different vantage points.

Pictured above are views of a cylinder illustrated by Langdon Shook Thompson in his book Manual of Drawing: to Prepare Students for the Regents' Examination in Drawing.

Note the attention to the perspective of the contour lines in this contour cross section drawing from Clifford Young's Figure Drawing Without a Model and an illustration from Drawing Figures by George Giusti showing the value of cross sectional contour drawing when drawing with charcoal.

The first drawing shows a sketch being developed by using contour cross section lines to define the form and perspective of the limbs, the sketch is from Intelligent Drawing by Edward L. Chase. The second is a fully developed drawing by Franz von Stuck published in Fritz Schider's Plastisch-Anatomischer Handatlas The drawing shows how cross hatched lines which follow the contours of the body can be used to create the illusion of three dimensional form.

These two prints also by Franz von Stuck from Fritz Schider's book show how engraved lines following the contours of the body enhance the form.

Here is a useful post from a teacher's lesson plan: Seeing Through Touch

William Berry's book is quoted in that post. Here are links to the book:

Drawing The Human Form: Methods, Sources, Concepts (2nd Edition)

Drawing the Human Form: Method Sources Concepts

Drawing the Human Form: Methods, Sources, Concepts a Guide to Drawing from Life

First image - Album de photographies des oeuvres achetées par l'Etat intitulé : "Direction des Beaux-Arts. Ouvrages commandés ou acquis par le Service des Beaux-Arts. Salon de 1884. Image on the right Laurent-Honoré Marqueste - Galathée

More images from the Salon of 1884.

Livret Illustré Du Musée Du Luxembourg: Contenant Environ 250 Reproductions D'après Les Dessins Originaux Des Artistes, Gravures Et Divers Documents (French Edition)

Le Musee du Luxembourg