wohlproportioniert

Wohlproportioniert is a German adjective meaning well-proportioned: having harmonious proportions in size, shape, and arrangement. The term is formed from wohl (well) and proportioniert (proportioned) and is used in art, architecture, design, and everyday language to describe objects, figures, or compositions that read as balanced and aesthetically coherent.

Usage and contexts: In architecture and sculpture, a building, statue, or ornament may be described as wohlproportioniert when its elements—facade rhythm, massing, and spatial relationships—read as balanced. In portraiture or fashion, it can refer to the relative proportions of body parts or the lines of clothing that produce a cohesive silhouette. In general critique, it signals a positive but non-technical assessment of proportion and form.

Nuance: The judgment is inherently subjective and culturally conditioned, and does not prescribe a fixed ratio. It can imply alignment with classical canons of proportion, but also simply describe a design that feels balanced. The term thus functions as a qualitative evaluation rather than a technical specification.

See also: Golden ratio, proportion (aesthetics), canonical proportions, harmony in design.