One three- to four-page paper will require all students to write a prolonged visual, formal, or iconographic analysis of a single artwork based upon original data collected from first-hand observation. This assignment is based on a virtual visit to an art museum (you are NOT required to physically visit any public spaces). Strong papers will blend personal response and reflection with critical analysis and interpret the selected artwork with respect to concepts learned throughout the course of the semester.
For the sake of this class, no biographic or historical analyses will be accepted.
The key elements to critical thinking expected from this written assignment include:
use of careful, precise language to describe the artwork observed;
an integration of descriptive and analytical statements about the object that steer the reader;
the demonstration of an awareness of the elements, principles, and fine art media in use;
clear reasoning about interpretations drawn from the looking process;
presentation of alternative questions raised by the space and object when appropriate;
use of art-historical interpretive approaches to engage with the object.
This paper serves as the final evaluation for this course.
WHAT IS VISUAL ANALYSIS:
“Visual analysis (sometimes called formal analysis) is an organized verbalization of the visual aspects of an artwork.
Visual analysis usually begins by describing the formal elements that compose an image (such as line, shape, color, and texture), noting how the parts relate to one another and to the image as a whole. Visual analysis goes beyond mere description by organizing the relevant visual elements around a main idea or interpretation.
Visual analyses can include research on technique (how the visual elements were created), style (how they appear within a certain tradition), and iconography (what they mean culturally and historically).”[1]
Review the following resources for further introduction to visual analysis:
Sylvan Barnet. “Formal Analysis and Style,” in A Short Guide to Writing About Art Pearson, 2015: pp. 113-134. (SylvanBarnet_FormalAnalysis.pdf)Preview the document
Anne D’Alleva, “Formal Analysis,” in Look! Fundamentals of Art History. Prentice Hall, 2005. See especially pp 11- 39. (D’Alleva, Formal Analysis.pdf)Preview the document
Robert Glass, “Introduction to art historical analysis,” in Smarthistory, October 28, 2017, accessed May 14, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/introduction-to-art-historical-analysis/ (Links to an external site.).
Patrick Hajovsky, “Guide for Writing in Art History” Southwestern University (guide-for-writing-in-art-historypdf.pdfPreview the document)
Beth Harris and Steven Zucker, “How to do visual (formal) analysis,” in Smarthistory, September 18, 2017, accessed May 14, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/visual-analysis2/ (Links to an external site.).
HOW TO WRITE A VISUAL ANALYSIS PAPER:
For this paper, you are asked to write a prolonged analysis of a single artwork based upon the visual data. Your brief analysis of the selected artwork should be set within your broader knowledge of the elements of art and pictorial culture, as they have been introduced over the course of the semester. Papers should have a clear, central thesis that is supported by what can actually be seen within- and read from the chosen artwork. Failure to include a clear, one-sentence thesis statement in the introductory paragraph will result in the deduction of one letter grade (10 points).
While visual analysis is based on description, pure description should be kept to a minimum. Additionally, this is NOT a research paper. Your time should be spent looking closely and often at the art object itself rather than researching or reading on the work, its artist, the art movement, etc.
