The text discusses the importance of intelligently arranging clothing folds in artistic representations of figures. Properly understanding and applying these techniques prevents unnatural and incorrect draping. The text also emphasizes the inherent nature of materials, encouraging a natural return to flatness while ensuring the fold's origin remains expressive and visible.
Practical Activities
There is nothing that preserves the artistic drawing of clothed figures better than an intelligent arrangement of folds; which not only should clothe the bodies of figures nicely between the limbs and joints as in parts, but also according to the pose of the face in which the limbs are moved, should be regulated. Misunderstanding this can lead to uncertain, impossible, confused, false, incorrectly placed, and unnatural folds, which often stand in contradiction to the observable rules and the posture, as we will soon see.
Generally, in all sorts of fabrics and draperies, with which the figures are artfully dressed, which is in the antique manner, it should be noted that from their own nature and flatness, they are even and unpleated; and that whether they need to be lifted, hung, fastened, or whether the limbs are bent or twisted, they always originate from their nature; if they can or are allowed to return to their previous flatness. From this, it is very easy to understand that the folds at the place where some of the aforementioned means derive their beginning or first origin are most visible and expressive; and consequently, those parts of the folds, which are away from their origin, fall more loosely, less visibly, and spread out more widely in their flatness. If we want to illustrate the said with an example, let us look at the accompanying sketch Q, and we will discover it easily and at a glance.
Translation Notes
Translation Notes: "Ployen" refers to folds in fabric, a critical aspect in art and design pertaining to how garments drape over the human form.