Art Appreciation Formal and Content Analysis Paper-Art Analysis Paper Help Online
Assessment:
This paper will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Accurate description of form
- Accurate analysis of form
- Quality of description and analysis
- Correct use and application of terminology
- Proper organization according to the outline provided in the instructions
- Clarity and professionalism of writing (edited, proofread, spellchecked)
- Adherence to assignment guidelines
Introduction:
Note: Formal analysis is not concerned with content (subject) or context. Do not include an interpretation of meaning in the first part of the paper. Only address how it looks. You are also prohibited from consulting websites, books, videos, or articles discussing the work.
The second part of the paper, content analysis, relies on research to determine meaning in the paper. You will rely on what other people already have said for this part.
Your formal analysis MUST address three elements of form and principles of composition. The most common of these are:
- Line
- Color (hue and saturation)
- Light and shadow (source and value)
- Texture
- Perspective
- Spatial attributes (space and mass/volume)
- Composition (rhythm, repetition, balance, proportion, scale, unity/variety)
First describe the element or principle, then analyze. For example, “The painting has a diagonal line that crosses the picture plane.” That is a description. “The effect of that line is to divide the painting into two zones.” That is analysis. Anytime you consider the effect of the formal element or principle of composition, you are analyzing the form.
Here are some questions to answer as you look at the work:
- How is line employed in the work?
- Does the work possess real or implied lines (like lines of sight), or both?
- How is the line handled? Is it bold and firm or sketchy and timid?
- Does it seem to regulate or order the composition? Is there a discernible axis created by one or more of the lines?
- Does it seem to fragment the work?
- Do lines help to define the objects in the image? Does the artist rely on lines to define his figures?
- Does line help to create the illusion of three-dimensional space, as in orthogonals and transversals?
- What are the effects of each of these treatments of line?
- How is color employed in the work?
- What is the dominant color scheme? Are complementary or analogous colors employed?
- Are the colors highly saturated?
- Are the colors local (naturalistic, true) or expressive? What effect does that create?
- Is color used to define the objects in the image? Does the artist rely on color to define his figures?
- Does color seem to regulate or order the composition?
- How are light and shadow employed in the work?
- Is there a discernible light source? Where? Is it consistent throughout the work?
- Is there a great deal of tonal/value contrast, or is it held to a minimum? What effect does that create?
- Are light and shadow treated naturalistically or conceptually? Does the artist employ light to describe his/her forms or to create expressive or exaggerated effects?
- Are light and shadow used to define the objects in the image? Does the artist rely on light and shadow to define his figures?
- Do light and shadow seem to regulate or order the composition?
- How is texture employed in the work?
- What textures are employed?
- Are the textures real (bumpy surface of the painting) or implied (painted to look like a weave)?
- Are the textures natural or unnatural? What effect does that create?
- Is texture used to define the objects in the image? Does the artist rely on texture to define his figures?
- Does texture seem to regulate or order the composition? (Hint: This rarely happens.)
- How does the artist implement perspective?
- Is perspective critical to the image?
- Is the perspective linear or atmospheric, or both?
- Does the perspective lead the eye into the picture?
- Does the artist ignore perspective for some reason?
- How is space employed in the work?
- Is the work rendered illusionistically or is it made to appear two-dimensional? Is it actual or implied? Even two-dimensional works take up space. What is the effect of this treatment of space?
- How does the artist define illusionistic space, if the object is two dimensional? Linear perspective, atmospheric perspective, overlapping?
- How does the work reveal the mass/volume of objects, if it is two-dimensional? Modeling, scale, shape.
- How are these elements composed, that is, organized within the work?
- Is there a clear and discernible geometric shape or other organizing principle employed?
- Is there a significant use of visual rhythm and repetition of elements?
- Is the composition balanced symmetrically or asymmetrically?
- Do the work’s various forms (figures/objects/shapes) seem proportional, and how does the question of scale affect your perception?
- Does the composition seem unified or varied? What unifies it?
