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Positive space is the area of the artwork that contains the main subject or focal point. It refers to what the eye is drawn to—the shapes, figures, or objects that stand out as the subject of the piece. Understanding positive space helps explain why the subject commands attention and how the artist organizes the composition around it. In contrast, space in a broader sense can imply depth or distance in a scene, not the specific area occupied by the subject. Negative space is the surrounding or empty area around the subject, and a line is a mark used to define edges or contours, not the space that holds the subject. For a painting of a vase, the vase itself is positive space, while the background around it is negative space. So the term for the primary subject or focus is positive space.