Visual Analysis Paper
FORMAT:
-Approx. 5 pages (3 pages MINIMUM, meaning the text reaches down to the last line of the sixth page), typed, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font. 20 points will be deducted for each page short of the 3-page minimum requirement (10 points for a half page, 5 points for a quarter page, etc.)!
Produce a well-written paper focusing on observations of a chosen painting or sculpture in the Milwaukee Art Museum. Formally analyze your chosen work (a list of works is presented below). Use the museum collection website to search for your chosen individual work: http://collection.mam.org/
The Visual Analysis Paper must include the following:
- Introduction (one paragraph): What is your object? Provide the name, date and subject matter. Present a thesis topic. What is the main focus of your description? (3 points)
- Main Description: Include discussion of ALL of the following (5 points for each visual topic): a. Subject: What is the subject of the artwork? Is it a narrative sequence? Is it allegorical? Is it symbolic? Is it a study of form or proportion? If there are figures, who are they? How do they interact? What is happening in the scene?
b. Composition: To what part of the work is your eye immediately drawn and why? Is the composition balanced or unbalanced? Does the activity of the work run outside of the frame or is it neatly contained within its own borders? Is there a specific shape that the composition forms?
c. Scale: How does the overall size of the work affect the composition and your reaction to it? Would you classify this work as small or monumental? Are the figures life-sized? Under life-sized? Over life-sized? Does the scale have any specific meaning to the overall message of the work?
d. Color: How does the artist use color? What specific areas draw your gaze because of the use of color? Be descriptive about the use of color, rather than making a list of colors used. For instance, instead of stating that red has been used, describe how the color is used (i.e. The form is covered in brilliant reds.). How important is color to the entire composition? Is the color naturalistic? Is it expressive? How does color affect the overall mood and message of the piece?
e. Texture: Is the surface of the object smooth or rough? Why has the artist chosen this specific texture?
f. Depth: Is there a clear illusion of depth? How does the artist deal with space? How is the viewer meant to perceive space? Does the viewer’s space interact with the space of the artwork?
g. Lighting: Describe the lighting and its source. Is there a clear source of light or does it seem to come from a variety of locations? What areas of the work are highlighted and which are covered in shadow? How does this affect your ability to decipher figures and space? Does the use of light direct your eye to specific areas or figures in the work? How would different lighting change the meaning? If you have chosen sculpture, how does light affect the surface and interact with the texture?
h. Line: Does the artist use a clear, well-defined line or is the use of line hazy and undefined? Is there any outline at all? Is there a lot of detail or is the detail ambiguous or non-existent? Are contours hard-edged and clear or soft and less defined? How does the use of line affect the appearance of forms and the overall message of the work?
i. Style: How does this artist’s work fit within its stylistic period? Drawing from your text and what we have learned in class, describe the major aspects of the work that correlate with the specific traits of a time period or style (i.e. Egyptian, Greek, Gothic, etc.)
j. Artistic Intent: What is the artist trying to say? Is there an overarching theme or symbolic context that the artist is providing? What is it? How does it change the meaning and/or impact of the work? - Conclusion (one paragraph): Based on your description sum up the main ideas about your chosen artwork. How does this object conform to what you know about the period? How is it representative of its time and place? Link the topic(s) in your conclusion to the goal(s) presented in your introduction. (3 points)
➢Make sure that you complete ALL aspects of this assignment, and answer all pertinent questions.
➢ _Include an image or images of your chosen work in a figures section at the end of the paper.
*While you are encouraged to use the accompanying texts on the website to gain historical insight, do not simply copy or restate what is written. Use this information to help develop your ideas. If you want to incorporate this or any text directly into your writing, make sure to use proper citation in Chicago or MLA style.
List of Artworks ______________________________________________
All objects are located on the Milwaukee Art Museum website: http://collection.mam.org/
Open This Link and search below topic. I want to write about this.
Mummy Coffin of Pediusir (Egyptian, 30th Dynasty/c. 350 BC)
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