<p>It's a form of <strong>hierarchical proportion</strong>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Hierarchical proportion is a technique used in art, mostly in sculpture and painting, in which the artist uses <em>unnatural proportion or scale to depict the relative importance of the figures</em> in the artwork.<br />
<sup><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierarchical_proportion" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a></sup></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Larger figures in these images play a larger role within the context, have a higher value or authority, are wealthier, more powerful, &amp;c.</p>
<p>It has been used throughout the history of the visual arts:<br />
Well-known examples include religious depictions (e.g. Madonna with Child, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Judgment" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the Last Judgment</a>), societal depictions (where those with higher ranks or power are relatively larger, such as <a href="https://www.davisart.com/blogs/curators-corner/hierarchical-size/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">family group sculptures from ancient Egypt</a>, or the donors of an artwork), depictions of royalty (think about Egyptian reliefs, or the <a href="https://smarthistory.org/victory-stele-of-naram-sin/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Stele of Naram-Sin</a>), and narratives (like <a href="https://www.givethedogabone.co.uk/img/product/star-wars-poster-a-new-hope-12009897-600.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">posters of Star Wars</a>).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-22T10:17:08.800Z
2021-03-22T10:17:08.800Z
Joachim
<p>Images of this style often appear in advertisment, Propaganda and to some degree religion. Basically this style is employed to promote an Idea or a Person. You might want to look at Keywords like 'Heroic Realism' 'Social Realism' which describe the style of Painting employed in 20th century Dictatorships - especially for propaganda (search phrases 'Soviet Propaganda', 'Heroic Realism propaganda')</p>

<p>Early examples of this style appear already frequently in Religious paintings of the early and high middle ages and can be found in every epoch.</p>

<p>However, I think it is not possible to name a specific style of paintings as what you are looking for is more of a compositional technique to highlight the importance or power of something or someone.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-03T09:23:02.033Z
2018-04-03T09:23:02.033Z
Vincent.W.
<p>To put it simply, it’s just <em>Yoji Shinkawa’s</em> way of drawing. It’s something he grew accustomed to, it’s not so much a <strong>style.</strong></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-11T17:40:25.167Z
2018-02-11T17:40:25.167Z
devlog
<p>A great example of this is the box art for Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience (see image below).</p>
<p>I've seen it used sometimes on movie and video game covers, but never knew the name of it.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/4wk80.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/4wk80m.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br />
<sup>Click for larger version</sup></p>

<terminology><style-identification>
What is the artstyle called where they have the protagonist large and all the other characters within the perimeter of the protagonist?
Judith
# What is the artstyle called where they have the protagonist large and all the other characters within the perimeter of the protagonist?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-22)

A great example of this is the box art for Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience (see image below).

I've seen it used sometimes on movie and video game covers, but never knew the name of it.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/4wk80m.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/4wk80.jpg)  
Click for larger version

**Tags:** terminology, style-identification


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-03-22. Score: 3

It's a form of **hierarchical proportion**:

> Hierarchical proportion is a technique used in art, mostly in sculpture and painting, in which the artist uses *unnatural proportion or scale to depict the relative importance of the figures* in the artwork.  
> [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierarchical_proportion)

Larger figures in these images play a larger role within the context, have a higher value or authority, are wealthier, more powerful, &c.

It has been used throughout the history of the visual arts:  
Well-known examples include religious depictions (e.g. Madonna with Child, [the Last Judgment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Judgment)), societal depictions (where those with higher ranks or power are relatively larger, such as [family group sculptures from ancient Egypt](https://www.davisart.com/blogs/curators-corner/hierarchical-size/), or the donors of an artwork), depictions of royalty (think about Egyptian reliefs, or the [Stele of Naram-Sin](https://smarthistory.org/victory-stele-of-naram-sin/)), and narratives (like [posters of Star Wars](https://www.givethedogabone.co.uk/img/product/star-wars-poster-a-new-hope-12009897-600.jpg)).


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-04-03. Score: 1

Images of this style often appear in advertisment, Propaganda and to some degree religion. Basically this style is employed to promote an Idea or a Person. You might want to look at Keywords like 'Heroic Realism' 'Social Realism' which describe the style of Painting employed in 20th century Dictatorships - especially for propaganda (search phrases 'Soviet Propaganda', 'Heroic Realism propaganda')

Early examples of this style appear already frequently in Religious paintings of the early and high middle ages and can be found in every epoch.

However, I think it is not possible to name a specific style of paintings as what you are looking for is more of a compositional technique to highlight the importance or power of something or someone.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-02-11. Score: 0

To put it simply, it’s just *Yoji Shinkawa’s* way of drawing. It’s something he grew accustomed to, it’s not so much a **style.**


---

