Form and Content Analysis
An important skill you will learn in this course is how to describe and interpret a work of visual art. The guide below will help you know what to look for and what to say when writing about a specific artwork. This guide is designed to help you look carefully so that your experience and opinion can be more thoughtful, meaningful, and valuable.
Look at the painting below The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. Write a description and interpretation of what you see. Write 1 paragraph for each section (this is a total of 4 paragraphs for the completed analysis). This should be written as an essay, not an outline. Click the Write Submission button to type your analysis, or or you may attach a file. If you attach a file, it must be formatted as a .docx or .pdf file.
You are not required to have a citations section, but if you do research beyond the coursework readings and videos, please include a list of references at the end of your analysis.
Paragraph 1: Introduction (25 points)
Present the FACTUAL INFORMATION relating to the artwork. Include as much of the following information as you can:
ARTIST(S) name, collaboration, anonymous, etc.
DATE specific date, approximate date, century, etc.
MEDIA drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture
TECHNIQUE shading, perspective, glazing, impasto, carving, casting, post-and-lintel, steel frame, etc.
STYLE Classical, Gothic, Expressionism, Surrealism, Pop, Post-Modern, etc.
Paragraph 2: Art Elements (25 points)
Describe each ART ELEMENT that you see in the artwork. Start with the most prominent el
ement and how that element is primarily used in the artwork. Provide specific examples and include as many as you can:
LINES vertical, horizontal, curved, straight, thick, thin, long, short, etc.
SHAPES circular, square, triangular, biomorphic, shapes of specific objects, etc.
TEXTURE rough, shiny, wood, skin, water, dots, stripes, etc.
VALUES light, dark, medium, high contrast, blended, etc.
COLORS bright, dull, red, yellow, blue, black, white, etc.
Paragraph 3: Design Qualities (25 points)
Describe each of the DESIGN QUALITIES that you see in the artwork. Start with the most prominent and include as many as you can:
SIZE actual measurements, largest part, smallest part, repeated sizes, etc.
EMPHASIS most important part, most important art element, etc.
MOVEMENT actual movement, implied movement, up, down, rapid, slow, chaotic, rhythmic, etc.
SPACE actual space, sculptural (3 dimensional), flat (2 dimensional), top, bottom, right, left, center, illusionistic, overlapping, etc.
Paragraph 4: Interpret the Meaning of the Work (25 points)
Discuss the MEANING of the artwork. Consider each of the following and include as many as you can:
SUBJECT MATTER What do you see in the artwork? still life, landscape, figure, formal, etc.
THEME religion, politics, sex, nature, imagination, emotions, etc.
PURPOSE decorative, expressive, commercial, etc.
CULTURAL CONTEXT historical time/place/events significant to the artwork
PERSONAL RESPONSE emotions, thoughts, ideas, opinions, etc.
Paragraphs will be graded according to the Paragraph Writing Rubric.