Art Analysis

How to write detailed analysis of artwork
Classroom teacher - [nevan]


Students
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Basic Outline

Lesson 1 - Basic Analysis
Lesson 2 - Detailed Analysis


Lesson 1
Analysing art is a useful tool to help you understand art itself, as well as how to read the ways in which people convey thoughts and feelings through artwork. This guide deals with how to analyse painted or drawn artwork as well as sculpture, rather than literate art (Poetry or stories)

The first step in analysing art is to describe the basics of the piece of art you are studying. What are the most basic and obvious points of the work?

Is it painting or sculpture?
Is it landscape or portrait?
What size is it? (If unsure, take an educated guess of its size)
What medium or materials have been used? (For example, is it painted on paper or canvas? Is it oil paint or watercolour?)
What are its surface qualities? (Is it smooth, rough, textured or flat?)
What colours have been used in the piece, and are they bright or dull?
Then describe the basic composition of the work. Is it a landscape, a historical scene, a fantasy scene, or someone’s portrait?
Does the piece have a foreground, mid-ground or background?
Is there any lettering on the picture?

This will give you an idea of the works literal and surface qualities


Lesson 2

The next stage is to get into analysing the piece. Look at the piece as a whole, and decide how the piece makes you feel. Does it make you angry, happy, sad or relaxed?
Also decided on the mood of the piece. Is it dramatic, funny, scary…?
Now think how the artist has used paint (or other medium that the work is composed of) to create that feeling.

You must now think about the meanings behind the piece of art.
Firstly, what does the art say to you? Do you feel the artist is trying to convey a message through the piece?
A good way to decide on what message an artist is trying to convey through a piece is to look into the pieces historical and social background. Consider what was going on historically in the time the painting was created (For example, was there a war on, or a revolution in the country the artist was from? Were there social taboos or stereotypes the artist may have been combating through their art?)
Looking into the artist’s life may also help you decipher the meanings behind their work.
There is no right or wrong interpretation of art. Many people will see different aspects of the work, so try to consider all the things the painting may represent.

The final stage of art analysis is to judge whether the piece holds any significance or value. When speaking of value, it does not only mean retail value (How much the piece is worth in money) but how much the piece is valued historically. Paintings do not have to show a historical scene to have historical value. A painting with historical value and significance could also show a turning point in social attitudes or artistic styles.

A detailed art analysis must contain some information from all sections in lessons 1 and 2.

Struggling to get the creative juices flowing? For an example art analysis, please read Example Analysis



Go or return to:
-Art Department
-EPC Departmental Staff
-Elfpack College