Underlying shapes

When analyzing old masterpieces one often discovers that the whole composition is based on one basic shape

• Triangle
• Circle
• Rectangle

An experienced artist will do this subconsciously without much thought, but for beginners it can be very helpful to plan a picture from the start:

It is prooved that humans recognize basic forms first. An image with a strong underlying form will be a bigger eyecatcher than an "unordered" composition. The shape unifies the whole image. Shapes can also contribute to the message of the image: A circle has a harmonous feel, a triangle looks more active and a rectangle is solid.