Source: Wyrich, J. (2014). Steps to Writing Well: writing about Visual Arts.
To begin with
suggestions for analyzing paintings, preparing for your viewing requires taking
detailed notes on what you see and have a picture for latter reference. Note your
first impressions. What this article author suggests us to do is never trust
our ability to memorize. Especially our first impression, we usually remember
little pieces of our feeling and it tends to be too vague so we need to write
it down right after we see the picture (Figure 1).
Figure
1. Suggestions for analyzing paintings.
Basic information
about the picture should include the name of the painting, the artist, the date
and place, the artist particular purpose, and the style of painting. Those
pieces of information are all important because they will potentially influence
what readers’ point of view. The background of the picture could help readers
understand the picture more easily. However, it might affect readers’ comments
on the picture because of the height of the artist’s reputation or the
popularity of the style, which makes the comment too subjective (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Suggestions for analyzing paintings-record basic information.
When studying the subject matter, we should
mention people, places, animal, objects, designs, and the most intelligent
part, abstract confluences of shapes and colors in the picture. Analyzing a
picture isn't an easy job without deep observations. The artist’s elements to express his intention often cover in the shapes, colors, and lines (Figure
3).
Figure 3. Study the subject matter.
A portrait serves as the representation of
a particular person. His or her facial expressions, angle of the body,
clothing, and accessories might imply power, superiority, gentleness,
aloofness, boredom, innocence or social class. These elements will all
construct the main point of view of the
artist (Figure 4).
As for a landscape, we are suggested to do the research about
whether the artist is inviting viewers to enjoy the beauty in the picture, or
in contrast the artist want to express paradise lost? Are elements such as
crossroads and storm used symbolically? Why are those people depicted in the
picture? Purpose must hide in those elements. That’s why Steps to Writing Well suggests that we put emphasize on them (Figure
5).
Figure 5. A landscape as the subject matter.
The
last suggestions for analyzing paintings is if possible, identify the painting’s
period style or “school” (Figure 6). Take Monet’s The Water Lily Pond as an example. Variation of the colors and
lights are used in the picture. This kind of style in nineteenth century is
called Impressionism.
Figure
6. If possible, identify the painting’s period style or “school.”
What Wyrick,
J.(2014), the editor of this writing encyclopedia Steps to Writing Well, suggest us to do is actually write in the style of
constructionism. Every element is utilized to construct the artist’s point of
view and his intention to express his thoughts. It is a clear and helpful way
to adopt Wyrich’s suggestions. With his suggestions, an essay about visual arts
would be complete and impressive.
