Essay Assignment

Due (at the start of class) on November 30

Please email me your essay on November 30 by 9:30am

Write a formal (visual) analysis of one artwork of your choice. The selection of the artwork is
important; choose a work that is relevant to the themes and periods we have covered in class,
and one which interests you. You may choose from the lecture powerpoints, the textbook, or the
online collections of the Met or any museum who has made their collection available online.

Introduction: Your thesis statement should appear clearly in the first paragraph, introducing the
main point of the essay. The argument throughout your essay should reflect this main thesis
statement.

Body: Your paper should be logically organized into paragraphs. It may be helpful to start each
paragraph with a sentence that relates to the thesis statement. You should think about the
structure of the overall essay before you begin, so that the reader follows a clear plan for your
argument.

Conclusion: The end of your essay should briefly summarize what you’ve laid out in the
argument. You should however avoid repeating or restating the introduction.

Intro Paragraph
-some background context and object description
-thesis statement (should be last sentence in intro paragraph)
EXAMPLE THESIS STATEMENT: “In his 1874 painting, The Bridge at Argenteuil, Monet
used line, color, and composition to produce an image of tranquility”
Body Paragraph 1: analysis of line
Body Paragraph 2: analysis of color
Body Paragraph 3: analysis of composition
Conclusion: summary without repetition

Other thesis statement examples:

“In his 1874 painting, The Bridge at Argenteuil, Monet uses loose brushstrokes, a
reduced color palette, and en plein air painting to capture the ephemeral effects of sunlight.”

“Monet’s 1874 painting, The Bridge at Argenteuil exemplifies the impressionist

movement based on his use of color, line, and form.”
**for such a thesis statement, you must provide comparable examples to another Impressionist
work in each body paragraph

All essays must be:

- 1-2 pages - Late submissions without prior
- double-spaced arrangement based on proper
- Times New Roman, 12-pt. font documentation and reason will
- with 1-inch margins have lowered grades
The goal of formal analysis is to explain how the formal elements of a work of art affect the
representation of the subject matter. The emphasis of your essay should be on analyzing the
formal elements, not interpreting the history of the artwork. That said, description of the formal
elements is not enough; you must contextualize the formal elements so the reader understands
how each of the visual elements shapes the work’s effect on the viewer. You must provide an
argument or main point, which you explain and back up, using formal analysis in each of
your body paragraphs.

Start by looking at the artwork, and take notes. If you get stuck, return to the visual elements.
What is the overall composition? How does the object maker/artist use line, color, shading, etc.?
How are the visual elements arranged? Is there a focal point? Is there a sense of movement? Use
the terms we’ve gone over so far to discuss the object with the appropriate vocabulary: color,
line, composition, negative space, perspective, foreshortening, register, subtractive/additive
sculpture, sculpture in the round, high relief, low relief, texture, scale, etc…