analyzing painting

Template for Paper Analyzing Painting

Part I. Introductory section

Your title should be “A Formal Analysis of (the name of your painting).” Below this title, embed an image of your painting. Below it, give the following key information in a list format:

1. Painting’s Title, Year of Creation, Name of Artist

2. Size or dimensions of painting

3. Medium used to create painting

4. Current location

Part II. Description of Painting and Survey of Notable Elements of Form/Composition (500+ words)

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? Tell what elements are dominant. The tone/style should be neutral—you are describing, observing the physical form and aspects of the work. You are not yet reflecting on possible meanings describing things like emotions invoked or ideas or issues. Try to sue the technical language of painting analysis here, drawing from the following elements of form and principals of design.

Elements of painting form:

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 painting 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)

Part III – Reflection and Interpretation (500+ words)

This is the part of the paper where you go beyond description and offer your own informed opinion about the work. The 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.

Adapted from https://ualr.edu/art/art-history-resources/papers-and-projects/guidelines-for-analysis-of-art/

For samples/models of student analyses of paintings see:

https://ualr.edu/art/files/2013/05/Sample_Paper_2.pdf

https://ualr.edu/art/files/2013/05/Sample_Paper_3.pdf

https://blogs.longwood.edu/incite/2012/01/30/analysis-of-claude-monet%E2%80%99s-impression-sunrise/