Which term describes depth in art by decreasing saturation with distance?

• A. Atmospheric perspective
• B. Linear perspective
• C. Sfumato
• D. One-point perspective

Answer: (A)

Depth in art is conveyed when distant forms look less saturated and hazier because the atmosphere scatters light as it travels to the eye. This effect, known as atmospheric perspective (also called aerial perspective), makes faraway objects appear cooler, lighter, and less detailed, while close objects stay sharp and vivid, helping the viewer sense depth without changing the geometry of the scene. Sfumato involves soft, gradual tonal transitions and blurred edges to imply volume, not distance through color changes. Linear perspective and one-point perspective focus on how lines converge to create a sense of space and structure, rather than how color saturation shifts with distance. So, the best term for depth created by decreasing saturation with distance is atmospheric perspective.