by Editor Jane Lyons
Edited and published by Yvette Depaepe, the 16^th of January 2024

‘N° 9’ by Ralph McConaghy

“You have to be odd, to be number one”--- Dr Seuss

Many artists have used numbers purely for their visual impact, recognizing their great compositional potential as a graphic device.
Artists such as Robert Indiana and Jasper Johns have employed numbers as a device to create perspective and structure.
They treat numbers as objects with layered meanings that extend beyond their function as a means of pure quantification.

Similarly, many photographers have used numbers as artistic props.
The graphic power and shape of numbers can create compositions that are intriguing and open to multiple interpretations.

‘1337’ by Roxana Labagnara

‘Puzzle.’ by Mikhail Potapov 

‘Thoughts’ by Peter Wang 

‘one’ by Roswitha Schleicher-Schwarz

‘muro arlecchino’ by paolo luxardo

untitled by Francesco Santini 

‘Morning in Zurich’ by ATTILA SZABO

‘3’ by Holger Droste 

‘choose me’ by Linda Wride

Numbers are art objects because they can be used as symbols with symbolic meaning.
Photographers use them for their formal and structural qualities.
They photograph them as graphic accents in saturated colour, in grids and overlays, and in oversized shapes that are treated like sculptures.
They add visual interest to a wide range of backgrounds and scenarios.

‘The Number 1’ by Roland Weber

‘Numbers’ by Steve Smith

‘Countup’ by Carlo Ferrara

‘Living at Number 4’ by Linda Wride

‘Maria’ by Holger Droste

‘Transience’ by Marco Beck

‘Seven o’clock’ by Alfonso Novillo

‘With Numbers’ by Emine Basa

Some photographers use numbers to explore themes such as time and representation.
Repetition and layering can transform numbers into shapes and patterns, creating new artistic expressions.

‘brain crush’ by Gabriela Pantu

“3/3’ by Ramiz Sahin

Untitled by Guido Maria Rustichini

‘blinds in abstract’ by Jois Domont (J.L.G.)

‘We Are Numbered’ by Hristo Yordanov

‘Old Time Memories’ by Jian Wang

‘numbering’ by HAN dong hee

untitled by Jian Wang

The concept of numbers evolved gradually in different cultures over thousands of years.

The earliest counting systems used tally marks, and the Sumerians created the first numerical system around 3400 BC.
The Hindu-Arabic system that we use today, with the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0, originated in India in the 6th or 7th century and was introduced to Europe in the 12th century.

 by Jane Lyons ;-)