Writing about Visual Arts in Constructionist Way

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).

  Figure 4. A portrait as part of subject matter.

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.