The Formula of Angles and Highlights (AH)

Visually, we perceive light highlights and dark shadows as shapes. This allows us to assess the position, volume and depth of objects. Because the optic muscles move more easily from side to side on a horizontal plane, graceful, flowing curves are more satisfying to the eye, and require less muscle movement. Like a camera, the eye is stimulated by quantity and quality of light reflected off an object that’s highlighted with pleasing shapes. The elements of the female face are then broken down into angles (A) and egg-shaped highlights (H). 
 
Every woman possesses various facial angles at certain levels of her face, and a beautiful woman wears these angles with a particularly pleasing orientation and elevation. For example, there is a definitive brow shape and angle that can be described as beautiful, complimented by the outer upward tilt of the eye. The angles observed around the brows, inner and outer corners of the eyes, the outer corner of the eye to the apex of the cheek, the upper and lower lips, the jaw and the neck are all of similar significance.
 
When viewing a beautiful face, the eye is drawn to the smooth, egg-shaped areas with bright highlights and rhythmic, flowing curves. Dr. Hoefflin describes these as “Fabergé Eggs”, named for the exquisite, bejeweled Easter eggs created by Peter Carl Fabergé for the Russian czars. The beauty and craftsmanship of these eggs continues to enthrall all who see them. Fabergé Egg highlights are imprinted on the faces of the most beautiful women in the world. These highlights occur below the brow, on the eyes, on the cheeks and at the angle of the jaw, and as double-egg highlights on the lips and chin.

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