10 Art Analysis
During the semester you will be analysing the artworks below and researching the artist who created the work. We will practise analysing the works as a class and then you will need to choose one to write or present a final four step analysis. The steps for this are listed at the bottom of the page.
What does the artwork mean?
What influences their work?
How did they compose the artwork? How are the elements arranged to create an appealing image?
What does the artwork mean?
What influences their work?
How did they compose the artwork? How are the elements arranged to create an appealing image?
Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt, Adele Bloch-Bauer I, oil on canvas, 1907
Dianne Jones' appropriation of Tom Robert's 'Shearing the Rams.'
Dianne Jones, Shearing the rams, 2001
Michael Levin
Michael Levin, Reveal, photograph, 2006
Ricky Swallow
Ricky Swallow, Killing Time, (full photo and detail) wood, 2003-04
Alessio Albi
Alessio Albi, Nature Boy, photograph
Hiroto Nakanishi
Hiroto Nakanishi, wood
Motoi Yamamoto
Motoi Yamamoto, Floating Garden, salt, 2012
4 Step Analysis
Write a 4 step analysis about the artwork at the bottom of this page.
You will need to use:
Page Layout
(Copy and paste this into a word document:)
Description
You will need to use:
- Full sentences
- Arts terminology
- 350 - 400 words
Page Layout
(Copy and paste this into a word document:)
Description
- What can you see? (still life, landscape, portrait, etc.)
- What are all the individual things that make up this work? (objects?)
- What elements of art/design are used in this work? (line, shape/form, tone, colour, texture, pattern)
- What techniques have been used? (impasto, stumbling, carving, etching, etc.)
Description is anything you notice about a piece of work when you simply look at it.
- How is the work organised? (composition)
- What is the relationship between the individual bits? (focal point? Balance? Colour scheme? Movement? Repetition? Contrast? Space? Depth? Perspective? etc.)
Analysis is when you find out the relationships between various parts of the overall composition ie. how the elements have been composed
- What does the work mean?
- Is there a message? (political, social, historical, personal)
- What is the intention of the artist? (arouse, shock, confuse, please?)
Maybe a play with texture, colour or the other elements? - Are there any expressive qualities? (mood, emotion, feeling?)
- Can bring in background information about the artist or the style/movement.
Interpretation is trying to make sense of the work: trying to find intention, messages, reasons why it was done.
- Is the work successful or not?
- Do you like it? Why/why not?
- Bring in any background knowledge about artist, style and media.
Base your evaluation on the above 3 steps and any background information you may have.