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Balance
THEORY & MATHEMATICSbeginner
Definition
The visual equilibrium of a composition, achieved through symmetry, asymmetry, or weight distribution. Balance can be formal (identical sides) or informal (different but equivalent visual weight), and is essential to creating harmonious, stable designs.
Example
Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater (1935) achieves balance through asymmetrical arrangement — cantilevered decks of different sizes create visual equilibrium without mirror symmetry.