1. work must be ORIGINAL!
2. Briefly Introduce and describe the original work of art.
3. Describe the subject of the work of art. State the subject as you understand it. If you are
writing about a building, describe the purpose of the building, but think of it like a whole
MUSEUM PAPER ASSIGNMENT
work of art, like a sculpture. You are encouraged to use information from wall labels (must
be cited) but secondary research is NOT expected and can sometimes lead students astray
from a visual analysis. If you want to include research to emphasize a point youve made,
that is perfectly fine, but not required.
4. Analyze the Visual Elements and the Principles of Design of the work of art (or building),
describing how these relate to the properties of the artistic medium; i.e., use of line in a
painting, the use of massin a work of sculpture. If you are writing about a building, identify
the issues of space and human activity as characteristic to architecture. Analysis is the
process of breaking something down to its component parts. The components we learned
about were the Visual Elements. The composition is governed by Principles of Design.
These are key parts of your paper. Use visual evidence to support and defend your
statements.
5. Discuss how the visual elements, design, and medium contribute to or enhance the subject
of the work. If you are writing about a building, discuss the impact of the design and
materials of the building upon the activities that take place within it.
6. Discuss how the site where the work of art is exhibited (or the location of the building)
influences the experience of the work. For example, suppose the work is in a museum
gallery. What is the impact of the size of the gallery, the adjacent works of art, the labels,
the height where the work is hung, your understanding of the purpose and reputation of
the museum, where the museum is located, etc.? If the work is a building, how does the
changing light of day/season affect your experience of the building’s interior
spaces/exterior forms? How does the surrounding landscape affect your experience of the
building?
7. What is the significance of this work of art or architecture? Why does it matter?
Remember, this is a VISUAL analysis. You are not expected to do outside research on the work of
art (although you can, if you’d like and if it helps your understanding). The expectation is that you
will use your own eyes and the knowledge and skills acquired from this class to analyze the work
of art visually and place it within its historical and cultural context. A common mistake is for
students to use a lot of historical background as filler. Use historical context carefully and only if it
supports your visual analysis. This is also a formal college paper. There should be a clear structure
with and introduction and conclusion. The style should be commensurate with this expectation.
