10/17/23, 9:28 PM
Analysis Worksheet Hayes Lindsay
about:blank
1/6
ARTS 209
HAYES, LINDSAY
ART ANALYSIS WORKSHEET
Gallery Study: In preparation for your formal analysis, print this worksheet and take it with you
to complete while you study your chosen artwork. You will submit these notes with your final
submission.
Viewing a visual image should be more than just looking and reacting without much thought.
Viewing is an interaction between the viewer and the art object. Although most art works are
constant, the interaction varies with each viewer because of the viewer's own varied perspectives
and associations.
1. Step 1
a) Preparation—have an open mind about artwork. Assume that the artist had something
to communicate.
b) Label—The Shores of Lake Superior, 1866
Thomas Moran
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas
NOTE: DO THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS IN ORDER. Respond to the following sections in
paragraph form. Use the questions provided (Q) as a guide to provide you with information for
your paragraph.
2. First Impression—record your first spontaneous reaction to the artwork. By the end of
the process, you may understand your first impression better or you may even change your
mind. There are no wrong answers. Unfortunately, this step is where many people stop when
they are looking at artwork.
Q. What is your immediate reaction to the work?
●Beautiful, peaceful, God's perfect creation on full display, sunrise at dawn, chilly,
Fall time, relaxing
3. Description
a) Inventory—This stage is like taking inventory. You want to come up with a list of
everything you see in the work. The key here is to stick to the facts. Imagine that you are
describing the artwork to someone over the telephone. This is a long and detailed
section.
●You see the sun-rising/setting overlooking a beautiful lake that is surrounded
by what looks to be mountains. The mountains all have sudden drop-off cliffs at
the edge that drops down towards the lake. The mountains surround all sides of
the lake, all except one, and that would be where the embankment is located. On
the bank, a family of three deer are positioned next to the body of water. There are
what looks to be two female does who are laying down in the grass, and one male
buck standing on guard over the female does. It looks as if it might be later in the
year. Autumn time possibly. All the leaves are turning brown, with most having
Page 1 of 6
10/17/23, 9:28 PM
Analysis Worksheet Hayes Lindsay
about:blank
2/6
ARTS 209
HAYES, LINDSAY
already fallen off the branches of the trees. The grass is also starting to look as if
it is dying off for the season. The embankment is rocky. The sky has dark clouds,
looks as if it had possibly rained or stormed. The sky is an orangish/pink color,
with just a touch of yellow peaking through the clouds from the sun.
b) Composition—Notice different elements in the artwork. How do the individual parts of
the artwork contribute or distract? Use terms—line, shape, color, value, form.
01. Line
a. Horizon
02. Shape
a. Amorphous
b. Organic
03. Color
a. Subdued
b. Clear
c. Calm
d. Cool
04. Value
a. Medium
●The elements all flow and combine lovely with each other in picture
perfect harmony
c) Visual Cues—How do the elements interact and conflict? How many colors are used?
Notice the source and direction of light. What kind of light source is used? How is the
illusion of depth achieved?
●The illusion of depth, achieved by the reflection of the cliff’s edges on the
water. There is also what looks to be a layered look as the mountains fade
into the background. The artist made use of about 14 different colors in
the piece, using the hidden sun as the source of light.
4. Analysis—Try to figure out what the artist has done to achieve certain effects. You should
refer to your first impressions and try to explain how the artwork achieves that reaction.
Q. How are the elements of art (color, shape, line, texture, space, form, and value) and the
principles of design (balance, contrast, emphasis, movement/rhythm, unity, and variety)
used in this artwork?
1. Balance
Page 2 of 6
10/17/23, 9:28 PM
Analysis Worksheet Hayes Lindsay
about:blank
3/6
ARTS 209
HAYES, LINDSAY
a. Informal
2. Contrast
a. Temperature
b. Edge
3. Emphasis
a. The lake
4. Rhythm
a. Random
5. Variety
a. Color
b. Landscape
c. Wildlife
6. Unity
a. Harmonious Blend
Q. What do you notice about the artist’s choice of materials?
●Oil painting on canvas
Q. What grabs your attention in the work?
●The sun that is either rising or setting the distance above the lake,
surrounded by mountains.
Q. What do you think this artist worked particularly at hard while he/she did this work?
●The detailed work that the artist done in the leaves in the trees, also on the
ground with the blades of grass and rocks
Q. Do you see any relationship between the things you listed during the description
stage? Do they work together to communicate specific emotions, principles, symbols, or
meaning?
●Yes, I do see relationship. It’s all natural, organic objects that are all found
together in nature everyday
Q. What mood or feeling do you get when you look at this work of art?
Page 3 of 6
10/17/23, 9:28 PM
Analysis Worksheet Hayes Lindsay
about:blank
4/6
ARTS 209
HAYES, LINDSAY
●The feeling I get from the piece is a feeling of calmness, relaxing, and
soothing
5. Interpretation—try to figure out what the artwork is about. Your own perspectives,
associations and experiences meet with “the evidence” found in the work of art. All art
works are about something. Some art works are about color, their subject matter, and social
or cultural issues. Some art works are very accessible—it is relatively easy for the viewer
to understand what the artist was doing. Other works are highly intellectual, and it might
not be as easy for the viewers to readily know what the artist was thinking about.
Q. What is the theme or subject of the work?
●The beauty of Mother Nature at Lake Superior
Q. What is the work about; what do you think it means?
●I think it is a display of one of the five Great Lakes of Michigan, with the
purpose of sharing the beautiful and mysterious Lake Superior, that was
created and gifted to us by God
Q. Why do you think that artist created this work?
●I feel like Thomas Moran created the piece because he enjoyed the scenery
that is offered by the lake, and he just wanted people all over the world to
have the opportunity to experience the beauty of it as well.
Q. What do you think the artist’s view of the world is?
●His worldview is possibly Christianity with a mix of pro-nature
6. Background Information—Find out as much about the work and the artist as you can. It
is important to complete this stage after having completed the other 5. Artworks should
provoke thought in the viewer. If you are given the thought or the answer before you
experience the artwork, your own creative thinking might be bypassed and your experience
with the artwork will be lessened. Art galleries and gallery educators are good sources of
information about art and artists.
●Artist: Thomas Moran (1837-1926)
●Born: Bolton, England
●Died: Santa Barbara, California
●Active In: Philadelphia, Newark, NJ; East Hampton, NY; Colorado, and
Wyoming
●Nationalities: American
Page 4 of 6
10/17/23, 9:28 PM
Analysis Worksheet Hayes Lindsay
about:blank
5/6
ARTS 209
HAYES, LINDSAY
●Art Movement: Romanticism
●Painting School: Hudson River School and Rocky Mountain School
●Genre: Landscape
●Field: Painting and illustration
ART WORK:
●Dimensions: 25 x 45 in. (63.5 x 114.6 cm)⅛
○Framed: 32 ½ x 52 ½ in.
●Medium: Oil on Canvas
●Credit Line: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
○Location: Bentonville, Arkansas
○Gifted to the museum by an anonymous donor
●Signed: I.I.: T. Moran
●Inscribed: Verso, u.l., frame: 259279
○Verso, c.l., frame: Metal[?]26
○Verso, l.l., frame: [illegible script]
○Verso, u.r., frame: 7201/25x45/ Metal[?]26
○Verso, l.r., frame: 2/ [partially obscured by hardware]9279
○Verso, c., on stretch bar: 4926
●Status: On View
●Accession Number: 2019.32
7. Informed Judgement—This is a culminating and reflecting activity. You need to come to
some conclusions about the artwork based on all the information you have gathered and on
your interpretations.
Q. Have your thoughts or feelings about the artwork changed since your first impression?
If so, how? What made you change your mind?
●No, my thoughts are still the same as beforehand.
Q. If not, can you now explain your first reaction to the work?
●The painting is a true display of pure harmonic bliss and peacefulness.
Q. What have you seen or learned from this work that you might apply to your own
artwork or your own thinking?
●The piece has also helped me gain a better understanding of the elements
of art, and the principles of art too.
Page 5 of 6
10/17/23, 9:28 PM
Analysis Worksheet Hayes Lindsay
about:blank
6/6
ARTS 209
HAYES, LINDSAY
References
Moran, T. (1866). The Shores of Lake Superior [Oil on Canvas]. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
https://collection.crystalbridges.org/objects/10276/the-shores-of-lake-superior#
Thomas Moran. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2021, from
https://americanart.si.edu/artist/thomas-moran-3406
Page 6 of 6
