120 likes | 381 Views
Writing a Formal Analysis of a Work of Art. What is a formal analysis?. Usually a formal analysis looks only at the elements of art and principles of design. Sometimes it includes interpretation.
E N D
What is a formal analysis? Usually a formal analysis looks only at the elements of art and principles of design. Sometimes it includes interpretation. For this assignment, focus upon how the artist applies the principles of design to a chosen work of art. The point is to look carefully.
Elements of Art Color Value Line Shape Form Texture Space
Principles of Design Balance Proportion Rhythm Emphasis Unity Contrast Variety
The Block, 1971 Romare Bearden One of six panels, Each panel 48” x 36” Cut and pasted printed, colored, and metallic papers, photostats, pencil, ink, marker, gouache, watercolor, pen, and ink on Masonite Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Begin with a thought-provoking or evocative thesis; something that will hook your reader. For example: Bearden’s collage art, such as The Block, 1971, effectively combines elements of cubism to show an African-American urban neighborhood.
Other Points of the Formal Analysis 1. Read the image as you would read text. Begin on one side and work across, relating what you see, or find the most important part of the image and read from that point. Do not skip around. 2. Describe some important details. Talk about the elements of art and the principles of design. 3. Summarize the overall appearance of the piece. Make a statement of its effectiveness. 4. No interpretation.
Format Paragraph 1 Evocative statement/thesis Paragraph 2 Five or more pieces of evidence to support statement/thesis Paragraph 3 Conclusion that is convincing