I can not get this sentence !

Question

Composition is the organization of shapes and forms into a whole - an expressive whole. The elements of composition - line, shape, tone, and color - need to be well arranged, need to be ordered. They need to be coherent... just like the words and phrase and sentences in a piece writing.

All paintings have a compositional element. Successful paintings sort of suggest the third dimension, the sense that the design goes beyond the picture frame. A picture's unity - which includes the shapes, tones and colors - is linked to what the artist has to say. The artist's message is strongest when it's clear. A composition is better if it says one thing strongly than if it tries to say too many things. A crowded composition is sort of fussy and splintered and lacks unity. Even a painting of a single object needs thoughtful composition so the character of the object is present in every shape. (Hi, everybody ! Could you make this sentence clearer for me ? I do not know what is talking about ! It starts with "Even", then halfway there is a "so", I am confused about this, could you make this one into some smaller sentences ? I guess that would be better for me to get this one ! Thanks a million !

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CalifJim · Accepted Answer

IMPSX-EFEven a painting of a single object needs thoughtful composition so the character of the object is present in every shape.

(Though this may seem surprising because a single painting seems so simple,) a painting of (only) a single object (and no more than that) (also) needs thoughtful composition in order to show the character of the object in every shape in the painting.

CJ

Cbsteh · Answer

"Even a painting of a single object needs thoughtful composition so the character of the object is present in every shape"

means, in relation to your given prior sentences,

"When we paint even just one object, we need to plan or think carefully so that the object does not look inconsequential or meaningless. Instead, our painting of the object should be such that it represents (describes/conveys/illustrates) our idea, impression or message."

Chris

IMPSX-EF · Answer

CalifJim
IMPSX-EFEven a painting of a single object needs thoughtful composition so the character of the object is present in every shape.
(Though this may seem surprising because a single painting seems so simple,) a painting of (only) a single object (and no more than that) (also) needs thoughtful composition in order to show the character of the object in every shape in the painting.

CJ

Hi, CalifJim,

Thank you so much!

I know what is talking about right now. This sentence has been confused me for a long time. Before geting your explanation, I have read this one numerous times, but it seems, the more times I read, the more I am confused, which just drives me crazy.

I know where have been confused me now, it is the word "Even". Then I still have a question, CalifJim. In this sentence, are "Even" and "so" structurally related ? It they are, then may I get it in this way? ,

"The artist's message is strongest when it's clear. A composition is better if it says one thing strongly than if it tries to say too many things. A crowded composition is sort of fussy and splintered and lacks unity. , even so (in spite of that, in spite of what has been said), in a painting of a single object needs thoughtful composition and the character of the object is present in every shape. (Even a painting of a single object needs thoughtful composition so the character of the object is present in every shape.)

Actually, I guess I do have a problem about what "Even' means in this case, and that is where have been confused me. I have never seen a normal sentence structure like this one, which starts with a "Even", and then halfway there is a "so", it is so weird! Do you think it is a normal structure of a sentence?

What is your opinion? CalifJim

IMPSX-EF · Answer

cbsteh"Even a painting of a single object needs thoughtful composition so the character of the object is present in every shape"

means, in relation to your given prior sentences,

"When we paint even just one object, we need to plan or think carefully so that the object does not look inconsequential or meaningless. Instead, our painting of the object should be such that it represents (describes/conveys/illustrates) our idea, impression or message."

Chris

cbsteh, thanks a lot!

CalifJim · Answer

Even a painting of a single object needs thoughtful composition so the character of the object is present in every shape.

In this sentence, are "Even" and "so" structurally related ?
____

No. Not in this sentence. You can have a similar sentence with even, but without the so clause.

even often has to do with inclusion.

Even a child can understand that 2 + 1 = 3.> Everyone, even a child, can understand it. Everyone, including someone who is only a child, can understand it.

Even the experts could not solve the problem.> No one, not even the experts, were able to solve it. No one, including the experts, were able to solve the problem.

Even very powerful men must die some day.> Everyone, even very powerful men, must die some day. Everyone, including very powerful men, must die some day.
____

Or you can combine it with a so ... that structure which deals with the degree to which, (that is, how much) something affects the situation. An adjective or adverb often occurs after so. This is not the pattern in the sentence you are interested in.

The equation 2 + 1 = 3 is so easy to understand that even a child can understand it.
The problem was so difficult that even the experts could not solve it.
Death is so inescapable that even very powerful men must die some day.

____

You can also have a similar sentence with so or so that, but without the even. This pattern does not involve degree, but reason. The so (that) clause explains why something is the way it is; it gives the reason. This is the so in the sentence you are interested in.

You need to place the flowers on the central table so everyone can see them. Why do we want them on the central table? What is the reason? Because we want everyone to see them.

I'm going to leave my coat on the back of this chair so I can find it quickly when I leave. Why? So I can find it quickly.

Thomas and Charles studied hard so they would pass the exam. Why? So they would pass.

____

You may be confusing the two uses of so described above: the so of degree and the so of reason.

And even so is a yet another expression meaning "in spite of what was said earlier". This is a third use of so that should not be confused with the other two.
____

In my opinion, the fact that you found a sentence that contains even, and that also has a so clause of reason, is purely a coincidence.

CJ

IMPSX-EF · Answer

CalifJimEven a painting of a single object needs thoughtful composition so the character of the object is present in every shape.

In this sentence, are "Even" and "so" structurally related ?
____

No. Not in this sentence. You can have a similar sentence with even, but without the so clause.

even often has to do with inclusion.

Even a child can understand that 2 + 1 = 3.> Everyone, even a child, can understand it. Everyone, including someone who is only a child, can understand it.

Even the experts could not solve the problem.> No one, not even the experts, were able to solve it. No one, including the experts, were able to solve the problem.

Even very powerful men must die some day.> Everyone, even very powerful men, must die some day. Everyone, including very powerful men, must die some day.

Hello, CalifJim,

Thanks for taking your precious time to offer me so many useful information.

"A crowed composition is sort of fussy and splintered and lacks unity. Even a painting of a single object needs thoughtful composition so the character of the object is present in every shape."

I have a question, then, in this context, do you think that "even" still has to do with inclusion ? This sentence just drives me crazy! The "even" in your examples, yes, I can understand all of them, but in the context I offered, I really can not figure out this.

If it uses "but / however" instead of "even", I will get it immediately, as "A crowed composition is sort of fussy and splintered and lacks unity. But / However, a painting of a single object needs thoughtful composition so the character of the object is present in every shape."

Or if it wants to say "Even a painting of a single object ... ...", then the previous sentence should tell us that "A thoughtful composition is quite necessary, we need it in our paintings." and then adds " Even a painting of a single object needs thoughtful composition so the character of the object is present in every shape."

These two corrections would be reasonable and coherent for me. The original sentences does not make any sense! These two original sentences are not coherent, they are obviously separate! They are clearly talking about two different things. If you only tell me one of them at a time, yes, I will definitely get it. But if they comes to me together, I do not think so.

CalifJim · Answer

IMPSX-EFdo you think that "even" still has to do with inclusion ?

Yes. The comparison is with paintings with many objects. All paintings, including those with only a single object, need thoughtful composition ...

IMPSX-EFIf you only tell me one of them at a time, yes, I will definitely get it. But if they come~~s to me~~ together, I do not think so.

Don't expect every piece of writing you encounter to be perfect. I recommend you put this away now, and concentrate on other things. Don't let this become an obsession.

CJ

IMPSX-EF · Answer

CalifJim
IMPSX-EFdo you think that "even" still has to do with inclusion ?
Yes. The comparison is with paintings with many objects. All paintings, including those with only a single object, need thoughtful composition ...
IMPSX-EFIf you only tell me one of them at a time, yes, I will definitely get it. But if they come~~s to me~~ together, I do not think so.
Don't expect every piece of writing you encounter to be perfect. I recommend you put this away now, and concentrate on other things. Don't let this become an obsession.

CJ

Okay, I get it!

Thanks, CalifJim, thank you for sparing your time to have a look my question. I appreciate that! Happy New Year!

I can not get this sentence !

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