Descending hooks/whiplash endings Symbolism

A descending hook—or whiplash ending—is a line or stroke that drops and curls at its close, letting the gesture taper as it leaves the field. Artists use this downturn to mark cadence and deceleration, signaling an end point without an abrupt stop. The hooked fall can guide the eye outward or downward, softening the termination of a form or phrase.