This document discusses the basic elements of visual language, focusing on shape. It defines different types of shapes, including flat versus volume shapes, positive and negative space, and geometric versus organic shapes. The document also explains how shapes can be represented through outlines, edges, and inside contour lines. It discusses the expressiveness of open versus closed shapes and the relationship between shapes in terms of size, overlap, and contrast. Finally, it provides examples of how shapes are used in different art styles such as realism, cubism, and abstract art.