Analysing Artworks GCSE 2021.2022.

2023
Use this sheet as a guide when writing a Formal Analysis. Consider the following when analysing a work
of art. Not everything applies to every work of art, nor is it always useful to consider things in the order
given. In any analysis, keep in mind the following: HOW and WHY is this a significant work of art?

1: General Information
 In many cases, this information can be found on a label or in a gallery guidebook. There may be an
artist’s statement available in the gallery.( Cite)
 Subject Matter (Who or What is Represented?)
 Artist or Architect (What person or group made it? This may not be known. If there is a name, refer
to this person as the artist or architect, not “author.” Refer to this person in the first instance by their
full name and thereafter by their last name, not familiarly by their first name.)
 Date (When was it made? Is it a copy of something older? Was it made before or after other similar

 works?)
 Provenance (Where was it made? For whom? Is it typical of the art of a geographical area?)

2: Description
In a few sentences describe the work. This section is not an analysis of the work yet, though some terms
used in the 3: Formal Analysis might be used here. This section is primarily a few sentences to give a
sense of what the work looks like.
 Figures, colours, shapes, objects, background etc.
 What does it look like?
 Is it a representation of something?
 Tell what is shown.
 How does it make you feel?
 Does it remind you of anything you have seen before?
 Is it figurative, semi-abstract or abstract? (Non-objective art - a type of abstract art that is usually,
but not always, geometric and aims to convey a sense of simplicity and purity).
 Tell what elements are dominant
 Tell what the subject is and what aspects are emphasized.
 Tell what elements are dominant.

3: Formal Analysis
Write down your observations in more detail, looking at these specific aspects of the artwork.
This is the key part and should be the longest section.
Colours:
 Which type of palette has the artist used: is it bright or dull, strong or weak?
 Are the colours mostly complementary, primary, secondary or tertiary?
 Which colour(s) are used most in this artwork?
 Which colour(s) are used least in this artwork?
 Are the colours used different ways in different parts of the artwork?
 Have the colours been applied flat, ‘straight from the tube’, or have different colours been mixed?
Tones:
 Is there a use of light / shadow in this artwork?
 Where is the light coming from? Where are the shadows?
 Is there a wide range of tonal contrast (very light highlights and very dark shadows) or is the tonal
range quite narrow (i.e. mostly similar tones)?
Use of media:
 What medium has been used (oil paint, acrylic, charcoal, clay etc)?
 How has the artist used the medium – i.e. is the paint applied thick or thin? How can you tell?
 Can you see brushstrokes, mark making or texture? Describe the shape and direction of the
brushstrokes / marks. What size of brush / pencil was used?
 Was it painted, drawn, sculpted quickly, or slowly and painstakingly? What makes you think this?
 Does the whole composition look full of energy and movement, or does it look still and peaceful?
How did the artist create this movement/stillness?
  What is the centre of interest in the composition?
 How does the artist draw your attention to it?
Mood / Emotion:
 What do you think the artist wanted you to feel when you look at this artwork?
 What has he/she used to create a mood? (think about colour, shape, tone etc.)
 How has he/she succeeded in creating this mood? (For example, strong vivid colours might be used
to create a joyful or angry mood in an artwork, depending upon how the artist has used them).
 Could the same mood have been created in a different way? How could you change this?
Context:
 Describe the particular time, place, culture and society in which the work was produced.
 When was it made?
 Who made it?
 What do you know about the artist?
 Does the work relate to the social or political history of the time?
 Does the work relate to other areas of knowledge, such as science or geography?
 Location (Where is the work of art now? Where was it originally located? Does the viewer look up at
it, or down at it? If it is not in its original location, does the viewer see it as the artist intended? Can it
be seen on all sides, or just on one?)
Content:
 The content is the subject of a piece of work.
 What is it?
 What is it about?
 What is happening?
 What does the work represent?
 Does the title change the way we see the work?
 Is it a realistic depiction?
 Have any parts been exaggerated or distorted? If so, why?
 What message does the work communicate?

4: Interpretation - Opinions and Conclusions

Now write down your personal thoughts about the work: there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers here!
This is where you go beyond description and offer a conclusion and your own informed opinion about the
work. Any statements you make about the work should be based on the analysis in Formal analysis above.
Discuss how and why the key elements and principles of art used by the artist create meaning.
Support your discussion of content with facts about the work.
 What do you think the artist is trying to say in this artwork? what does it mean?
 What is the main theme or idea behind this piece?
 Does the artwork have a narrative (tell a story)? Is it a religious artwork?
 Is it abstract? Is it realistic? Why?
 How would you explain this artwork to someone else?

5: General Suggestions
 Use the present tense in describing works of art.
 Be specific: don’t refer to a “picture” or “artwork” if “drawing” or “painting” or “photograph” is more
exact.
 Remember that any information you use from another source, whether it be a book, a wall panel, a
museum catalogue, a dictionary of art, the internet, must be documented. Failure to do so is
considered plagiarism.
Adapted from

https://ualr.edu/art/art-history-resources/papers-and-projects/guidelines-for-analysis-of-art/

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/start-here-apah/principles-of-composition-apah/a/pattern-repetition-and-rhythm-variety-an

unity#:~:text=Variety%20is%20the%20use%20of,Mandala%20is%20an%20excellent%20example.

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-emphasis-in-art-182434
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zpht6fr/revision/1#:~:text=Rhythm%20in%20art%20and%20design,repetitions%20of%20lines%20and%20fo
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/n/non-objective-art