Boas, Franz: Primitive art (Oslo , Leipzig [u.a.], 1927)

The formal element in art

43



than on top, and these are set off more definitely by the
arrangement of groups of white lines on the lower two rows.
Still more complex are a number of borders embroidered in colored
yarn. In these we may distinguish between the rhythm of form and
of color (fig. 38). The arrangement is one combining symmetry with
rhythmic complexity. On one of these strips (fig. 38 a) some of
the rectangles with rhombic checkerwork have a white background;
in these there are two rows of blue or purple diamonds at each
end and two rows of red diamonds in the centre (design 1). Other
rectangles have a yellow background with red diamonds at the sides
and blue ones in the middle (design 2). Besides these there is one
with red background and black diamonds (design 3). The colors of
the crosses are irregularly arranged. There are four with predomi-