Which ratio is described as the pleasing proportion formed by the golden rectangle?

• A. Tenebrism
• B. Balance
• C. Recontextualization
• D. The Golden Rectangle/Mean

Answer: (D)

The pleasing proportion being described is the golden ratio, the ratio that defines a golden rectangle. In a golden rectangle, the longer side divided by the shorter side is about 1.618 to 1. This ratio is self-similar: removing a square leaves another smaller golden rectangle, continuing the same proportion. Artists and designers use this ratio to organize space and create a sense of harmony in a composition. The other terms refer to different concepts—tenebrism is about dramatic light and shadow, balance concerns visual weight, and recontextualization deals with changing context. So the ratio described by the golden rectangle is the Golden Rectangle/Mean.