The Vitruvian Man
The Vitruvian Man is one of Leonardo da Vinci’s most iconic drawings, created around 1490. I’ve admired da Vinci’s studies, paintings, and inventions for much of my life, and this piece has always stood out to me. Executed in metalpoint, pen and ink, and watercolor on paper, the drawing reflects Leonardo’s exploration of human anatomy, heavily influenced by De Architectura, the treatise by the Roman architect Vitruvius hence the name Vitruvian Man.
Because Vitruvius never illustrated his writings, later artists sought to visualize his ideas. Leonardo’s interpretation combines Vitruvius’s concepts with his own anatomical studies. The image depicts the ideal human form and its proportions, shown within both a circle and a square, with the navel at the center of each. This geometric framework offered insight into historical theories of symmetry, balance, and anatomy.
My logo draws inspiration from this image. I wanted to create a symbol that reflected the tools I work with daily, so my character holds everything from a caliper to a paintbrush. The multiple arms represent the many different projects I manage at once something I take great pride in. The design has become a centerpiece for my new business cards. Over the years, the Vitruvian Man has been reimagined in countless ways, but for me, it remains one of the most enduring relics of art history, science, and the Renaissance always present in the back of my mind.