Okay, so we’ve had posts about the magic of 3 and the power of 2, so now I feel I must advocate for 1 (or maybe just ramble about number symbolism).

One

Sure I’ve used various numbers of toys and figures in my photos, but I have a soft spot for one. That being said, I do tend to create solemn photos and 1 then comes to represent either lonliness, or  a solitary journey. This doesn’t mean, in the whole scheme of things that the figure is in life alone, but for this moment, when we see inside their head, they’re on a philosophical path that they must travel alone.

More

So then would 1 figure be solitude, 2 relationships, and 3 balance? Or at least this is my interpretation, but number symbolism in art is a thing – although not the easiest to research. Here’s what I’ve found so far for numbers 1 – 13. Check out the links below for further information on this sometimes odd list.

  1. unity, self, God, the universe
  2. opposites, duality
  3. mystical, spiritual, the family unit, beginning, middle & end, the Holy Trinity
  4. earth & body – the four elements, cardinal directions, yearly seasons, the four humors
  5. magic, human life
  6. perfection, days of creation
  7. astrology, virtue & vices, rest, music, luck
  8. resurrection of Christ, paradise
  9. pain, sadness
  10. completeness, finality
  11. negativity, monsters
  12. the zodiac
  13. bad luck

Sources:

  • https://www.dartmouth.edu/~matc/math5.geometry/unit4/unit4.html
  • https://www.dartmouth.edu/~matc/math5.geometry/unit8/unit8.html
  • https://www.britannica.com/topic/number-symbolism

While I love to sometimes consider color symbolism in my photos, I only very occasionally play with numbers. It’s interesting to see how numbers have been used historically, and I wonder how much this effects how people view the number of items in my photos and others.

One of these days, maybe I’ll create a 13 part series with items that represent each of the things in the list above…or maybe I’ll just stick to my beloved ‘1.’

Survival – 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

What number is your favorite to use in your work? And what do you feel that number represents?

Jennifer Nichole Wells