Formal vs. Contextual Analysis

• Formal Analysis - studying the characteristics of the artwork itself

• Contextual Analysis - studying art and its cultural and historical background

Elements of Art Analysis

Elements of Art Analysis are used to understand and evaluate artworks. You need to understand and correctly use these elements to understand and characterize artworks in their historical and cultural context

Line and shape - A line is a mark left by a moving point. Can be actual or implied. Can have many qualities, such as width, density, and direction.

• An actual line is clearly visible.

• An implied line can be an edge that is not explicitly drawn.

• Contour lines are continuous lines defining the edge or outer shape of an object.

• Hatching is the engraving or drawing of fine, closely placed parallel lines used to create an effect of shading

Color - can imitate nature and have expressive functions. Can be used to express ideas, emotions, or symbolism. Three terms that art historians use when talking about color: hue, value, & saturation

• Hue is the property of the color that gives it its name. Terms like primary, secondary, complimentary, warm colors, and cool colors describe hue

• Value is the relative degree of lightness or darkness of a color. Black is the darkest value; white is the lightest. Mixing black with a color darkens the color; adding white lightens it.

• Saturation refers to the purity of a color, its brightness or dullness. A highly saturated color looks vivid; a less saturated color appears muddy

Light and Shadow - can be used to highlight important elements in artwork or to convey meaning or mood. Light can be real (what is present when viewing the artwork) or created by the artist in the artwork itself.

Space – can be actual (the space it takes up) or created (the representation of an image in a three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface)

Motion - can be real or implied in artwork. Artwork could have motion itself, or the artist could represent motion with static objects

Pattern & Texture – pattern is produced by the repetition of motifs, colors, shapes, or lines and can be used to organize the composition and emphasize certain motifs or other elements. texture is the tactile quality of a surface. It can be actual (like the rough or smooth surface of a sculpture) or implied (like the softness of painted fur). It can be both descriptive and expressive. Artists can also create actual textures on two-dimensional surfaces by using impasto. Impasto is the building up of paint on a canvas, panel, or another two-dimensional surfaces. Texture can also be stimulated through variations in color, tone, and line without altering the physical surface.

Two-Dimensional Media – can be two or three dimensional. Two dimensional media includes paintings, film, and photography.

Three-Dimensional Media – includes sculptures, architecture, and craft

Proportion – is the comparison of the parts in artwork to each other, the whole object, or the environment. Can be natural or the result of precise mathematical calculations.

Questions to ask when analyzing the use of proportion are:

• Do the proportions seem natural or distorted?

• Are some body parts, objects, or figures emphasized over the others?

• If so, what is the impact?

Scale – refers to the relative size of complete figures or objects compared to their original size or their environment.

Composition – describes how an artist puts together all of the elements of art we have just discussed.

Funky Caravaggio Flips to Picasso’s Song

These questions will help you evaluate form, content, function, tradition, patron, and setting when trying to understand and evaluate an artwork’s historical + cultural context. Ask yourself these questions!

Funky (Focus):

• What does the artist want us to look at?

• Use of formal elements contribute to the work’s overall structure and visual effect?

Caravaggio(Content):

• What is the subject?

• Is there any symbolism?

• Is it realistic?

• Are there any themes?

Flips(Function):

• Why was it created?

• Who was able to see or use the work and under what circumstances?

• Is the work made of rare or expensive materials?

• What has the artist manipulated that shapes our emotional response to the image?

• Is the subject matter emotionally charged?

To (Tradition):

• What traditions or cultures impacted, assimilated or influenced the artwork?

• Were there any rituals or other activities that this artwork was used or seen in?

Picasso’s (Patron):

• Who made it?

• Who was the artist?

• Who wanted it made?

• Who was the patron?

• Why would the artist, patron, or viewer be interested in the subject of this artwork?

Song (Setting):

• Where was it created?

• When was it made?

• Where was it originally located?

• What was the social climate in which the work was produced?

• Does the artwork have any historical significance?

• What is the style?