gezichtslijn

Gezichtslijn is a Dutch term that literally means “face line.” In art, portraiture and visual analysis it refers to the contour or silhouette of the face, or to the imaginary line(s) used to construct and evaluate a portrait. The gezichtslijn helps define the outer boundary of the face and informs the placement and proportions of facial features within that boundary.

In practice, artists use the gezichtslijn as a guiding element when drawing or painting a face. It serves as a reference for aligning the eyes, nose, and mouth and for determining proportions when the head is viewed from different angles, such as frontal, three-quarter, or profile views. The line can vary with pose and expression, influencing shading, contour, and likeness.

The concept is commonly discussed in Dutch art education and critique as part of techniques for achieving accurate representation and visual balance in a portrait. It is related to, but distinct from, the line of sight (zichtlijn) and from more technical notions of facial proportion and anatomy. While gezichtslijn emphasizes the boundary and geometry of the face in two-dimensional depiction, gezichts- and expression-focused analyses may address how the line interacts with light, form, and character.

In summary, gezichtslijn describes the essential boundary line of the face used to guide the construction, proportion, and expression of facial portraits in visual art.