An Example of Near Symmetry

'Crying Spider' by Redon makes use of near symmetry. The spider-man 's circular body and human face are basically symmetrical in themselves. In addition the placement of the subject at the near center of the page emphasizes it's inherent symmetry. The symmetry becomes broken with the placement of the spider's legs. There are five on each side, but the placement of the legs does not match up with their coinciding twins' position on the other side of the body. This near symmetry helps enliven what might have been an otherwise stiff composition. Their uneven positions also help create the sense that the spider-man is alive and functions as a normal spider might; it also reinforces the creepy, surreal feeling that Redon was trying to create with his images of dreams.