What is a formal analysis?
A formal analysis is more than just a description of a work of art. It is an argument based on your own visual evidence that takes a stance and creates an interesting discussion from the formal elements of the work.
How is a formal analysis different from other writing?
- A formal analysis presents the difficult challenge of translating the visual (what you observe in the art) into the verbal (what you actually write).
- Not only do you have to describe the work, but you also have to use your description to support your argument. You are therefore simultaneously analyzing and describing the work.
- All of your evidence and analysis will come from the formal elements of the work.
Prewriting
- Carefully choose the work you will analyze — choose one that speaks both emotionally and intellectually.
- Take a pad and pencil to record your thoughts while observing the piece. It is good to set aside at least 20 minutes for pure observation.
- Focus above all on the formal elements of the work, including line, medium, color, light, space, composition, and style. What feeling do they give to the viewer and what are their relationships to the rest of the work as a whole?
- Consider the context of the work: artist, time, historical background, location. These facts cannot be used in your visual analysis, but they can give shape to your conclusion.
- Review all of your notes to develop an argument. Try to make connections between the formal issues and the broader concepts of context and personal response to develop this argument.
Writing
The conventions for a formal analysis for a work of art is similar to other writing in the humanities. You
should have a thesis statement and structured paragraphs, and you should adhere to general rules of grammar and style.
Remember that you are not simply describing the work; rather, you are using your descriptions of the work to reinforce your thesis.
- Avoid using the first person since your arguments should develop from the formal elements, not your personal response.
Avoid: I was disturbed by the painting.
Better: The sharp, heavy lines outlining the figures and the dark blues which dominate the sky in the background give the painting an ominous and disturbing feeling.
FAQs
Focus above all on the formal elements of the work, including line, medium, color, light, space, composition, and style. What feeling do they give to the viewer and what are their relationships to the rest of the work as a whole? Consider the context of the work: artist, time, historical background, location.
How do you describe form in art analysis? ›
Form is one of the elements of visual art which pertains to the way that a shape or physical configuration occupies space. For a three-dimensional work of art like a sculpture or work of architecture, form is the shape, structure, and arrangement of components like length, width, and depth of a shape.
What is a formal analysis in art quizlet? ›
Formal analysis. A way of understanding an artwork by analyzing its use of artistic techniques and characteristics to define its meaning. Description. An overview of something which creates an image of that object through words. Used to point out artistic devices in an artwork.
How to write a description of an artwork? ›
Don't Give Away Too Much Information. The best way to write an art description is to use words that will intrigue potential buyers. Use adjectives to describe the subject matter, and avoid using technical terms. If you're selling a painting, try to keep the description short and sweet.
What are the four steps in art analysis formal analysis? ›
There are four basic steps: describing, analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating. image or URL for that image. The goal of having you do a full analysis of the work you are researching is for you to better understand the work.
What is a formal analysis in writing? ›
A formal analysis is more than just a description of a work of art. It is an argument based on your own visual evidence that takes a stance and creates an interesting discussion from the formal clements of the work. How is a formal analysis different from other writing?
What is description in art analysis? ›
Description merely describes objective qualities of a work of art. Analysis attempts to answer what techniques have been used by the artist to achieve their results. Interpretation makes claims about what a work of art means. And evaluation makes claims about the positive or negative value of a work of art.
What factors are considered in a formalist analysis of an artwork? ›
Formal Analysis
It includes describing the work in terms of various design elements, such as color, shape, texture, line, lighting, mass, and space, as well as a discussion of how those elements have been used (the design principles).
How to visually analyse an artwork? ›
Begin by stating the type of material (for example, a building, a photograph, etc.), who made it, its title/name, and the year it was created. If relevant, also state its media, materials, components, dimensions, and location. Then, examine and describe formal elements such as colour, line, shape, texture, and tone.
What is the formal analysis technique? ›
Formal analysis is a specific type of visual description. Unlike ekphrasis, it is not meant to evoke the work in the reader's mind. Instead it is an explanation of visual structure, of the ways in which certain visual elements have been arranged and function within a composition.
The first step in a formal analysis of an artwork is: Identifying the regional or cultural style of the artwork.
What are the terms of formal analysis? ›
The central components of a formal analysis are medium (materials), technique (how the object was made), “aesthetics” (style), and “iconography” (symbols & subject matter).
How to write an art analysis essay? ›
A formal analysis is just what it sounds like – you need to analyze the form of the artwork. This includes the individual design elements – composition, color, line, texture, scale, contrast, etc. Questions to consider in a formal analysis is how do all these elements come together to create this work of art?
Which of the following is the best definition of formal analysis? ›
Formal analysis is the examination and interpretation of the formal qualities (such as line, shape, color, texture) present in an artwork without considering its subject matter or context. It focuses on how these elements are used by the artist to convey meaning.
How do you describe art in words? ›
Using precise and appropriate art words will highlight the key features of your artwork, encompassing visual elements such as color, form, texture, line, shape, and space, as well as the techniques and mediums utilized, its artistic style or movement, and the emotions or conceptual message you want to express.
How do you analyze formalism in art? ›
Formalism Theory
The formalistic approach directs that art be analyzed by reviewing form and style. Elements like color, shapes, textures, and line are emphasized, while the context of the work is de-emphasized, and made a secondary characteristic—at times taken completely out of consequence.
What is a formal analysis of a work of art involves? ›
Formal analysis, also known as visual analysis, is one of the most essential tools for an art historian. It involves looking at a work of art and identifying the visual qualities which compose it. It involves little to no prior knowledge of an artist or their work, and requires no research by the art historian.
How do you write a formal critique for art? ›
The four steps are:
- Descriptoin: What do I see?
- Analysis: How is the work organized?
- Interpretation: What is happening? What is the artist trying to say?
- Judgement: What do I think of the work?
Artist Statement Guidelines
- Why you have created the work and its history.
- Your overall vision.
- What you expect from your audience and how they will react.
- How your current work relates to your previous work.
- Where your work fits in with current contemporary art.
- How your work fits in with the history of art practice.
