Examine these examples of painting, sculpture, graphic design and architecture and notice how each require slightly different methods of analysis. Use the following questions as a guide.
Analyse a Painting
Colour
l Does the colour contribute to the meaning? l Are the tones strong or soft?
Materials l What size is the painting? l What medium do you think the artist has used? l What is the evidence to support your opinions?
Technique
l Has the artists used gentle or vigorous brush marks?
l Are the figures rendered expressively or naturalistically?
l Is the surface textured or smooth?
Figure 11 Time Flies, 1887, by William Gerard Barry, Crawford Gallery, Cork.
Subject or Theme
l What do you think is going on in this work? l What do you think the title of this painting refers to?
l Do you think the artist feels optimistic or pessimistic about the passing of time?
l How does he convey this mood? l Compare the painting to another work you know with a similar style or location. Do you think the works might be connected? Why do you think that?
Light
l Can you tell from the light direction what time of day it might be?
l Why might the time of day be significant? Context or Location
Composition l How has the artist used the art elements like colour, line or shape in the painting?
l Has he achieved harmony and balance?
l Do you think this work was made for this location (site-specific)? Would it be different or have more/less impact in another setting?
l Positive and negative space. l How does the sculpture react with the space inside and around it?
xvi NEW APPRECIATING ART
Context l Who was the artist and where did he live and work?
l What artists or art movement was he involved with or influenced by?
l Would knowing more about the artist help you understand the work better?
Analyse a Sculpture Subject
l What is happening in the work? l Does it have a purpose or a function?
Form
l Has the sculpture a strong presence? Why do you think this?
l How does the lighting pick up aspects of the surface?
l Would brighter, softer or coloured light change its visual impact?
