Glossary
Active and Passive Line
The European line classification system that describes lines by their expressive character rather than their geometric direction.
“The European tradition treats lines as having character, not merely direction - active and passive are expressive descriptions, not geometric ones.”
Active lines strive upwards in multiple distinct forms: unfolding, swinging out, ending in a flat or domed circle, playful, or tortured. Passive lines do not strive: they settle, gather, trail, or cascade. The European terminology is more expressive than the Static/Dynamic framework - it treats lines as having character, not merely direction. Both terms are largely undocumented in English online content, representing high differentiation value.
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Glossary terms