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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.
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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 create a visual narrative about the realities of an African-American urban lifestyle.
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 and/or discuss the materials or methods used to make the artwork. 3. Summarize the overall appearance of the piece. 4. 5. Try to avoid 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