Formal and Contextual Analysis Essay
Write a minimum two page, double-spaced analysis of one of the following works of art:
Office at Night by Edward Hopper, c. 1940
Seated Figure, Right Hand on Ground by Henri Matisse, c. 1908
Departure by Max Beckmann, c.1935
Sharecropper by Elizabeth Catlett, c. 1952
Black Girl’s Window by Betye Saar, c. 1968
Couple in Their House, Soweto, South Africa by David Goldblatt, c. 1972
Oaxaca, Mexico by Eduardo Del Valle and Mirta Gomez, c. 1988
Untitled (Perfect Lovers) by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, c. 1991
De Style by Kerry James Marshall, c. 1993
Be sure to title your essay with the work of art you are writing about.
Your essay should be broken up into an introduction paragraph, one to three formal analysis paragraphs (depending on whether you choose to discuss the Elements and Principles you have chosen in individual paragraphs or in one long one), one contextual analysis paragraph, and a conclusion paragraph.
Part 1:
The first part of this essay should be a formal analysis. Remember that a formal analysis is an explanation of the way the Elements and Principles of Design (studied in Unit 1) as well as materials and processes (studied in Unit 2) are utilized in the creation of a work of art. Suggestions for writing a strong formal analysis can be found here and here.
Additional assistance for Part 1:
A formal analysis is an essay that discusses the ways in which the Elements and Principles of Design are used in a work of art and to what end (how and why). The Elements and Principles of Design are the concepts you learned in Unit 1: Line, Shape and Form, Color, Value, Texture, Space, Pattern and Repetition, Contrast, Emphasis, Balance, Scale and Proportion, Harmony and Unity, and Movement.
You will choose three of them that you see present in the artwork and discuss how they work together to create the overall experience or impression of the piece. Be sure to also use appropriate medium and processes language from Unit 2 in your essay (for example, if you are writing about a photograph, be sure to refer to it as a photograph and not as a painting).
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Part 2:
The second part of this essay should be a contextual analysis. Remember that a contextual analysis is an explanation of the way biographical, political, historical, or social information about the work influences your interpretation of the work. Some guidance on contextual analysis can be found here.
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Structuring the essay: Your essay should be broken up into an introduction paragraph, one to three formal analysis paragraphs (depending on whether you choose to discuss the Elements and Principles you have chosen in individual paragraphs or in one long one), one contextual analysis paragraph, and a conclusion paragraph.
Introduction: The introduction of your formal analysis should give the title of the work, the artist’s name, and when the work was created. You may also include information such as where the work is located, and short contextual information such as what movement it was created as part of or interesting biographical information about the artist that relates to the work of art. Your introduction paragraph should conclude with a thesis statement that tells your reader which Elements and Principles of Design you will discuss in the essay and why. For example, a strong thesis statement for A Calm at a Mediterranean Port by Claude-Joseph Vernet might be, “The artist uses line, color, and value to create a sense of depth in the image that implies the continuation of vast landscape beyond the edges of the picture plane.”
Body/analysis: The body of your paper is where you will discuss in depth the Elements and Principles of Design you have chosen. A sample analysis sentence about the Vernet painting above could be, “The use of both horizontal and diagonal lines in the work suggests vanishing points beyond what the eye can see. Horizontal lines stacked vertically delineate the foreground, middleground, and background of the image. Diagonal lines represented in the stone work in the foreground of the image guide the eye towards a distant point in the background. This use of line suggests a type of largeness of the landscape beyond what is contained on the canvas, prompting a sense of awe in the viewer.”
You will complete this type of analysis for each of your three (or more) chosen Elements and Principles of Design, which you may present as separate short paragraphs or one long paragraph.
Your contextual analysis should come after your formal analysis and should be one medium to long paragraph.
Conclusion: To end your analysis you want to offer some content that provides closure but does not simply restate what you have already discussed in your essay thus far. This is a good place to discuss your own reaction to the work or relate it to something else you have seen or experienced. The goal is not just to end the paper, but also to draw some final conclusion about the work of art.
Analysis can be a bit intimidating to approach if you’ve never written one before. My suggestion would be to keep it very focused and stick to the guidelines above. Make sure your content draws conclusions about what the Elements and Principles of Design are doing in the work rather than just stating that they exist (so instead of just saying, “The artist uses color,” you would say, “The artist uses color to….” and offer a purposeful viewpoint). Be sure to really take the time to view and analyze your chosen work before you write about it! Reviewing the “Look, Describe, Interpret, Connect” post in the Introduction folder on our left navigation bar may be very useful for this assignment.
You should submit your essay as a .doc or .pdf. through the “Attach Files: Browse My Computer” button.
PS: Do yourself a favor and research your chosen work of art, but do not plagiarize from what you find! Put things into your own words and be sure to cite your sources.
