A formal analysis is one of the fundamental skills of Art History. In simple terms, we understand that artworks do something to us (whether that be making us feel a particular emotion or convey a certain message), and a formal analysis attempts to answer how the artwork does that.
Take a Long Look
The first thing you have to do is take a good, long look at whatever artwork you are doing the analysis on. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What is the artwork made of? Is it a painting, sculpture, or something else? What size is it?
- What is the first thing you notice when you look at the artwork? What draws your eyes there?
- If you were to reduce the artwork do its most basic geometric shapes, what would they look like?
- What colors tend to dominate the artwork?
- What symbols do you notice?
Take notes on what you see! This all makes the eventual writing process significantly easier.
Your introduction
A formal analysis does not need a long, involved introduction. In most instances, you need two or three sentences. The first sentence introduces the artwork that you are discussing. Depending on your professor, you may need an optional additional…
