How to do visual (formal) analysis Describing what you see: Sculpture, Henry Moore's Reclining Figure Glossary Painting Looking at paintings Key terms + concepts Chiaroscuro explained Foreshortening explained Linear perspective explained Atmospheric perspective explained Art Terms in Action—Tint, Shade, and Tone The emphasis should be on analyzing the formal elements—not interpreting the artwork. Visual analysis Why look at art? Formal Visual Analysis: The Elements & Principles of Composition By Jeremy Glatstein Formal analysis is an important technique for organizing visual information. Formal Analysis Paper Example 1 Formal Analysis Paper Example 2 Formal Analysis Paper Example 3

In other words, it is a strategy used to translate what you see into written words. Writing a Formal Analysis in Art History The goal of a formal analysis is to explain how the formal elements of a work of art affect the representation of the subject matter and expressive content. This strategy can be applied to any work of art, from any period in history, whether a photograph, sculpture, painting or cultural artifact. Visual Analysis Guidelines for writing an Art History paper.