Analyze the formal properties of any artwork that interests you. The artwork chosen can be any unique painting,sculpture, or photograph that has been publicly displayed in a gallery or museum.

Analyze the formal properties of
any artwork that interests you. The artwork chosen can be any unique painting,
sculpture, or photograph that has been publicly displayed in a gallery or museum. See
below for LOTS of further overviews and tips. Please feel free to ask any questions.
FORMAL ANALYSIS PAPER LEARNING OBJECTIVE: the goal of a formal analysis
is to explain how the formal elements of a work of art affect the representation of the
subject matter and expressive content. The emphasis should be on analyzing the
formal elements—not interpreting the artwork.
A formal analysis includes an analysis of the forms appearing in the work you have
chosen. These forms give the work its expression, message, or meaning. A formal
analysis assumes a work of art is (1) a constructed object (2) that has been created with
a stable meaning (even though it might not be clear to the viewer) (3) that can be
ascertained by studying the relationships between the elements of the work.
To aid in writing a formal analysis, you should think as if you were describing the work of
art to someone who has never seen it before. When your reader finishes reading your
analysis, they should have a complete mental picture of what the work looks like. Yet,
the formal analysis is more than just a description of the work. It should also include a
thesis statement that reflects your conclusions about the work. The thesis statement
may, in general, answer a question like these: What do I think is the meaning of this
work? What is the message that this work or artist sends to the viewer? What is this
work all about? The thesis statement is an important element of the analysis that sets it
apart from being a merely descriptive paper.