Final answer:
Shapes can stand out by using positive and negative space, where positive shapes are distinct and emphasized while negative spaces are the areas around these shapes, contributing to the composition. Techniques like lighting, texture, and line work, including hatching, help achieve this effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shapes can stand out from the areas next to or around them through the use of positive and negative space. A positive shape is typically one that is distinguishable or more heavily emphasized against the background, which can be achieved through various elements such as color, texture, and lighting. In contrast, negative shape refers to the space around and between the positive shapes, often contributing to the overall composition as much as the positive shapes do.
For example, in the painting 'Las Meninas,' the figures become the positive shapes as they are dramatically lit against a dark background. Even a dark figure in the doorway can be a positive shape when it is surrounded by a lighter space. Meanwhile, the space between objects, such as the area around a sunlit carpet contrasting with a shadowed dog, can become as compelling a part of the composition as the objects themselves.
Positive and negative spaces can be made more distinct by the surrounding elements, such as other shapes or the texture of these areas. Lines are also instrumental in this process, forming the edges of shapes or contributing to the perception of form through techniques like hatching, which can create the illusion of three-dimensionality.