How to analyse an artwork

HOW TO ANALYSE AN ARTWORK

If you follow the order and aspects given on this sheet you will have comprehensively analysed a painting.

Note that not all the aspects are suitable to comment on for every painting. Select the aspects that seem most appropriate.

1.  Recording the painting details

    (your notes should always state painter, title and date)                                                

     Name of Painter: 

     Title of the Work:  

     Date it was painted:

     Size : 

     Medium : 

     Stylistic Period:

2. Describe the subject / theme. (describe the subject and content. Explain ideas the artist is expressing, underlying themes & background about the work.)

3.  Composition (describe the organisation of objects and/or figures within the painting. Focal point, foreground, middle ground, background; symmetry / asymmetry; methods of leading the eye around the work; effects created by compositional devices.))

4.  Space/Depth. Perspective, overlapping of objects; effects created by the use of these devices (eg: depth of field).

                                                                                                                       

5.  Colour. (describe the colour palette used, how are cool / warm colours used; effects of the colours.)

6.  Light

(Describe the direction of light. Light source, is there chiaroscuro? Is the light atmospheric / how do you know?)

  

7.  Form and Effects

(describe the use of line, tonal modelling, hatching, direction of line, rendering and the effects these elements produce. Eg: static of moving forms?)

8.  Technique

      (describe the technical processes. Eg: etching type, rough, smooth, quality of materials, application of medium, support, layering, etc…) research this if you don’t know.

 9.  Context (known through research and knowledge of style) research the social & historical; geographical, cultural; ideological and religious context (background) of this artwork. Comment on: how these factors are reflected in the artistic style of the artist.

10. Record  your comments on the process of seeing and drawing the master’s image.

Questionnaire adapted from: Ormond, B, 2014, ‘How to analyse a painting’, University of Auckland, http://artsonline2.tki.org.nz/documents/ah6analyse.doc, viewed 30 March 2014-03-30