Visual Art Analysis Paper

How to Analyze an Artwork

How to write a formal analysis of a work of art is a fundamental skill learned in an art appreciation-level class. You may not need to apply everything below, depending on the selected artwork you will be analyzing, Use this sheet as a guide when writing a formal analysis paper.

Part I – General Information

Provide the artist's name, title of the artwork and page number. If the image was on a PowerPoint, provide the chapter number and slide number. Example: Edward Hopper, "Nighthawks", page 180.

Part II – Brief Description

In a few sentences describe the work. What does it look like? Is it a representation of something? Tell what is shown. Is it an abstraction of something? Tell what the subject is and what aspects are emphasized. Is it a non-objective work?. This section is primarily a few sentences to give the reader a sense of what the work looks like.

Part III – Form

This is the key part of your paper. It should be the longest section of the paper. Be sure and think about whether the work of art selected is a two-dimensional or three-dimensional work. Tell what elements are dominant.

Art Elements

1. Line (straight, curved, angular, flowing, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, contour, thick, thin, implied etc.)

2. Shape (what shapes are created and how)

3. Light and Value (source, flat, strong, contrasting, even, values, emphasis, shadows)

4. Color (primary, secondary, mixed, complimentary, warm, cool, decorative, values)

5. Texture and Pattern (real, implied, repeating)

6. Space (depth, overlapping, kinds of perspective)

7. Time and Motion

Principles of Design

1. Unity and Variety

2. Balance (symmetry, asymmetry)

3. Emphasis and Subordination

4. Scale and Proportion (weight, how objects or figures relate to each other and the setting)

5. Mass/Volume (three-dimensional art)

6. Rhythm

7. Function/Setting (architecture)

8. Interior/Exterior Relationship (architecture)

Part IV – Opinions and Conclusions

This is the part of the paper where you go beyond description and offer a conclusion and your own informed opinion about the work. Any statements you make about the work should be based on the analysis in Part III above.

1. In this section, discuss how and why the key elements and principles of art used by the artist create meaning.

2. Support your discussion of content with facts about the work.