Kaadrisse

Kaadrisse is a term used in Dutch-speaking art and design contexts to refer to a system of guide lines or frames that organize a composition. The concept describes dividing an image into smaller units through vertical and horizontal lines, creating a grid or series of frames that help plan proportions, layout, and later transfer of the image to a final support.

The term derives from the Dutch word kader, meaning frame, with a suffix that forms a noun indicating a set or system. In practice, kaadrisse functions similarly to the grid method found in many art traditions: artists lay out a reduced version of the composition within the grid and then map the larger work by copying or scaling the elements from cell to cell. This facilitates accurate positioning, proportion, and perspective, especially when enlarging a drawing or transferring a design from one surface to another.

Use and applications of kaadrisse span drawing, painting, engraving, and printmaking. It is employed as a preparatory technique in art education to teach composition and proportion, and in professional workflows to ensure consistency when reproducing or enlarging images. The approach can also support modern workflows, including digital illustration and storyboard planning, where a sequence of frames helps organize pacing and visual structure.

In relation to other terms, kaadrisse is connected to the broader concept of framing or structuring an image (kader) and to grid-based methods used across disciplines for scaling, copying, and planning. Related concepts include proportion, perspective, and storyboarding.