This cross-sectional study examined the u-shaped development in graphic symbolization, a theory postulating that aesthetic properties of preschool children's drawings are similar to those of adult artists' drawings. Subjects were 140 artists and non-artists from 7 age groups, ranging from 5-year-old children to adults. All subjects were given the same 3 drawing tasks (draw: happy, sad, and angry), and the resultant 420 drawings were scored across 5 aesthetic dimensions. Analysis showed that across the dimensions of expression, balance, and use of line and composition, adult artist scores were significantly different from those of all other groups except for artist adolescents and 5-year-old children. In the use of symbolic vehicle and metonymic or metaphoric referent, artists performed differently from artist adolescents and 5-year-olds. Results support a view of the u-shaped development in which young children and artist adolescents occupy the two peaks of the u, with adult artists performing ahead of both these groups. Also, a progression was found in the construction of the referential connection underlying visual metaphor. Eleven drawings are included. (MM)