Choose one work of art from an online/virtual exhibition or an artists portfolio. Write a paper on your chosen work of art analyzing the elements and principles of art as well as the themes present in the work.
Format: 2-4 pages, 12-point font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins, and a cover sheet.
The goal of a formal analysis is to explain how the formal elements of a work of art affect the representation of the subject matter and expressive content. The emphasis should be on analyzing the formal elements—not interpreting the artwork. Think back to Chapter 1. That said, an understanding of the meaning of the work is the final goal of any formal analysis.
Getting Started:
It may be helpful to start by looking at the work of art and identifying the visual elements. How are they arranged? Is the work balanced? Is there a focal point? Is there a sense of movement? Refer back to Chapter 1 and the elements and principles of art.
Describe how they are not only used within the composition but also how they interact with each other.
Formal elements of art: picture plane, composition, color – hue – value – saturation – intensity – warm/cool – primary/secondary – complementary, line – contour lines – lines of direction or movement, shape, contrast, texture, technique [linear vs. painterly], illusionistic space
Formal elements of sculpture: scale, in-the-round vs. relief, directionality, shape [organic vs. geometric], open form /closed form [silhouette], material, texture, volume, light and shadow, color, and technique [additive vs. subtractive].
The Thesis Statement:
Your thesis should provide a framework for your analysis and suggest your interpretation of the work. A thesis statement does not necessarily involve a statement of argument or original insight, but it should let the reader know how the artist’s formal choices affect the viewer.
For a formal analysis it will typically be:
“In this paper, I will be undergoing a visual analysis on ARTISTNAME’s INSERT TITLE*.”
*make sure to italicize the title of an artwork
The Analysis:
Although description is an important part of a formal analysis, description is not enough on its own. You must introduce and contextualize your descriptions of the formal elements of the work, so the reader understands how each element influences the work’s overall effect on the viewer. In simpler terms, describe the work in as much detail as you can and then explain how the elements and principles of art work together with the artists choices. You may include your emotional responses to a work, but you must explain them and back them up with evidence, the formal elements that elicit your emotional response.
Example of effective analysis: In Club Night, George Bellows traces the boxers’ limbs with distinct, arcing lines that define the curvature of each muscle and give the viewer a sense of the energy in their bodies. These long brushstrokes convey stability and fluidity, whereas the short brushstrokes in the boxers’ upper bodies suggest an immense accumulation of tension, like a coiled spring. Additionally, strong diagonal lines in the boxers create a sense of lunging, dynamic movement.
Suggested Structure for a Formal Analysis:
Introduction: The introduction should identify the title of the work of art, the name of the artist, and the date when it was created. You may also indicate the medium, the period in which it was created and its current location. While biographical information about the artist is not necessary, if you know something about the artist’s interests or the interests of the period that may have influenced this work, you may include it here. Typically, your introduction should conclude with your thesis statement, which will suggest the meaning or content of the work in order to introduce the formal elements you have chosen to analyze.
Body/Development of Analysis: Each element you discuss in your paper should be analyzed in its own paragraph. You may find it helpful to begin each paragraph with a topic sentence about the significance of the element and end with a concluding statement. You may also organize your analyses of the formal elements according to major figures, a focal point, or other significant effects in the composition.
Conclusion: The conclusion may summarize your findings and relate back to the theme presented in your introduction; however, you should avoid simply repeating what you offered in the introduction. You may also include any new ideas, insights, or understandings you gained about the work through the analysis process.
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