Examples for Harmony and Disharmony

The next graphic shows a disharmony between two hatchings:
 
 

 
 
These two hatchings do neither seem alike nor unlike each other. This causes once again uncertainty about the fact whether we have similarity or dissimilarity. And this uncertainty arouses the sensation of disharmony. The following graphic shows "contrary" hatchings:
 
 

 
 
The hatchings seem harmonic to us. When looking at this image, we instantly make out the different arrangement. This certainty gives us a feeling of order and subsequently a sensation of harmony. We can see a consistent regularity of change in the next graphic:
 
 

 
 
Just as we have seen with the lines, the consistent regularity of change causes harmonic distribution. In the next graphic, the first disharmonic hatching recurs and once again harmony is created, because we can easily identify that it is a repetition of the same unit:
 
 

 
 
To sum it up it can be said that a disharmony can be resolved by means of three steps:

• By means of juxtaposing it to a "contrary" (creation of something dissimilar)
• By means of creating a consistent regularity of change
• By means of repetition (creation of something similar)

These steps ensure that no difficulties will arise while classifying the environment and that the composition will be perceived as orderly and consequently as harmonic.
 
These rules do not only apply to surfaces or shapes, but also to colors: The juxtaposition to a contrary is nothing else than a Harmony Contrast; the creation of a consistent regularity of change is nothing else than a Color Row; and the repetition of a disharmonic shape has the same harmonic effect on us as the Repetition of a Disharmonic Color Composition.
 
The classification according to similarity or dissimilarity is influenced by associations and personal experience. This is to say that it also depends on the individual person whether something is classified as disharmony or harmony. It cannot be ascertained to which extent these associations and individual experience influence the process of classification. That's why it is not possible to define exact and universally valid rules for a harmonic composition. So all rules of harmony theory must rather be regarded as forecasts, and we always have to leave some room for digression from these forecasts.