A visual analysis essay is an academic paper type that history and art students often deal with. It consists of a detailed description of an image or object. It can also include an interpretation or an argument that is supported by visual evidence.
Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!In this article, our custom writing experts will:
The primary objective of visual analysis is to understand an artwork better by examining the visual elements. There are two types of visual analysis: formal and contextual.
Usually, students deal with formal visual analysis. Before starting to work on your essay, make sure to ask your professor whether to include contextual analysis or not.
Why is visual analysis important? What does it help to learn? There are several things that visual analysis helps with:
When we look at an artwork, we want to know why it was created, who made it, and what its function was. That’s why art historians and researchers pay special attention to the role of artworks within historical contexts.
Visual analysis is a helpful tool in exploring art. It focuses on the following aspects:
Now, let’s look at some visual elements and principles and learn how to define them.
Visual Elements:
| Element | Definition |
|---|---|
| Line | Lines can be obvious, or they can be formed by the placement of objects. They can vary in length, width, and direction. |
| Shape | Shapes are two-dimensional. They can be geometric or organic. Familiar shapes help us focus on particular parts of an artwork. |
| Form | Forms are three-dimensional. Such figures as cylinders, pyramids, and spheres are forms. |
| Color | Color is light that reflects off of objects. Its main characteristics are hue, value, and intensity. Colors can also be warm or cool. |
| Texture | A texture is a feel, appearance, or quality of a surface of an object. It can be used in two-dimensional and three-dimensional artworks. |
| Space | Space is a feeling of depth. It also refers to the artist’s use of the area within the painting. Space can be positive or negative. |
Visual Principles:
| Principle | Definition |
|---|---|
| Balance | Balance is the distribution of visual elements and weights of objects, colors, textures, and space. Balance can be symmetrical and asymmetrical. |
| Emphasis | Emphasis defines the center of interest in a painting and catches the viewer’s attention. It’s usually different from the rest of the work. |
| Subordination | Subordination supports the center of interest. It is a part of an artwork that is played down to let the emphasis stand out. |
| Rhythm | Rhythm is the relationship between elements. It creates a visual tempo and establishes a sense of harmony by repeating certain features. |
| Movement | Movement is the path the viewer’s eyes follow, coming to the focal points of a work. The movement is usually directed by the lines, shapes, and colors of an art piece. |
Writing a formal analysis is a skill that requires practice. Being careful and attentive during the pre-writing stage is essential if you want to create a good and well-structured visual analysis.
Visual analysis essay mainly consists of two components:
During the pre-writing stage:
Every analysis starts with an introduction. In the first paragraph, make sure that:
It’s also important to know how to introduce an artwork. If you’re dealing with a panting or a photograph, it’s better to integrate them into the first page of your analysis. This way, the reader can see the piece and use it as a reference while reading your paper.
Formulating a thesis is an essential step in every essay. Depending on the purpose of your paper, you can either focus your visual analysis thesis statement on formal elements or connect it with the contextual meaning.
To create a strong thesis, you should relate it to an artwork’s meaning, significance, or effect. Your interpretation should put out an argument that someone could potentially disagree with.
| Focus on interpreting how formal elements and principles give meaning to the artwork. | In Starry Night, the village is painted with dark colors, but the brightly lit windows create a sense of comfort. |
| Comment on the overall organization of an art piece. | Van Gogh’s swirling sky directs the viewer’s eye around the painting. |
| Another option is to relate the painting to the other artworks you have studied or seen before. | If we compare Munch’s The Scream to van Gogh’s Starry Night, we can see that a similar swirling technique was used to paint the sky. |
Body paragraphs of formal analysis consist of two parts—the description and the analysis itself. Let’s take Klimt’s The Kiss as an example:
| Description | The painting shows an embracing couple concealed behind a large golden cloak. Two distinct parts constitute the image. First, the part of the cloak covering the man has a repeating geometric black and white motif. Meanwhile, the second part of the cloak, covering the woman, has flowers and circles on it. |
| Analysis | The author uses predominantly warm shades such as gold and bronze brown. Spatial flatness using two-dimensional patterns was deliberately employed except at the couple’s exposed skin. Klimt was heavily influenced by the art of Japan, ancient Egypt, and Byzantine Ravenna, which preferred two-dimensional perspective styles to emphasize human subject matter. |
The contextual analysis includes interpretation and evaluation.
| Interpretation | Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss is the reflection of tenderness and passion. Klimt was working on The Kiss during his Golden Phase. Within the paintings of that period, Klimt treats the human figures as two-dimensional. They are also all surrounded by flat, brightly composed, and highly ornamental decorations. |
| Evaluation | The Kiss is a very significant piece for several reasons. It represents the apex of Klimt’s Golden Period and shows his distinctive style. The piece is also a fantastic example of the Art Nouveau movement. |
When you work on the conclusion, try to conclude your paper without restating the thesis. At the end of your essay, you can present an interesting fact. You can also try to:
In this section of the article, we will share some tips on how to reference an artwork in a paper. We will also provide an essay example.
When you work on visual analysis, it is important to know how to write the title of an artwork properly. Citing a painting, a photograph, or any other visual source, will require a little more information than citing a book or an article. Here is what you will need:
If you want to cite a painting or an artwork you saw online, you will also need:
Finally, here’s a sample visual analysis of Rodin’s sculpture The Thinker in APA format. Feel free to download it below.
Many people believe that works of art are bound to be immortal. Indeed, some remarkable masterpieces have outlived their artists by many years, gaining more and more popularity with time. Among them is The Thinker, a brilliant sculpture made by Auguste Rodin, depicting a young, athletic man, immersed deep into his thoughts.
Visual Analysis of Rodin's The ThinkerYou can also look at the following essay samples to get even more ideas.
Thanks for reading through our article! We hope you found it helpful. Don’t hesitate to share it with your friends.
Further reading:
To write a visual argument essay, you need to use rhetorical analysis. Visual rhetoric is directed at analyzing images and extracting the information they contain. It helps to analyze the visuals and the arrangement of elements on the page.
đź“Ś How do you write a contextual analysis of art?A well-though contextual analysis will include:
1. formal analysis,
2. some information about the artist,
3. details on when and where the piece was created,
4. the social purpose of the work,
5. its cultural meaning.
It is better to include pictures in the introduction part of your paper. Make sure to cite them correctly according to the format you’re using. Don’t forget to add the website name, the URL, and the access date.
📌 What does “analyze” mean in art?To analyze means not only to describe but also to evaluate and synthesize visual information. To do that, you need to learn about visual elements and principles and see how and why they are used within artworks.
This article was developed by the editorial team of Custom-Writing.org, a professional writing service with 3-hour delivery.
Recommended for You 
Want to know how to write a reflection paper for college or school? To do that, you need to connect your personal experiences with theoretical knowledge. Usually, students are asked to reflect on a documentary, a text, or their experience. Sometimes one needs to write a paper about a lesson.
A character analysis is an examination of the personalities and actions of protagonists and antagonists that make up a story. It discusses their role in the story, evaluates their traits, and looks at their conflicts and experiences. You might need to write this assignment in school or college. Like any.
![Critical Writing: Examples & Brilliant Tips [2024]](https://custom-writing.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/fingers-note-report-journalist-filling-284x153.jpg)
Any critique is nothing more than critical analysis, and the word “analysis” does not have a negative meaning. Critical writing relies on objective evaluations of or a response to an author’s creation. As such, they can be either positive or negative, as the work deserves. To write a critique, you.
If you are assigned to write a rhetorical analysis essay, you have one significant advantage. You can choose a text from an almost infinite number of resources. The most important thing is that you analyze the statement addressed to an audience. The task of a rhetorical analysis essay is to.
Any literary analysis is a challenging task since literature includes many elements that can be interpreted differently. However, a stylistic analysis of all the figurative language the poets use may seem even harder. You may never realize what the author actually meant and how to comment on it! While analyzing.
As a student, you may be asked to write a book review. Unlike an argumentative essay, a book review is an opportunity to convey the central theme of a story while offering a new perspective on the author’s ideas. Knowing how to create a well-organized and coherent review, however, is.
The difference between an argumentative and persuasive essay isn’t always clear. If you’re struggling with either style for your next assignment, don’t worry. The following will clarify everything you need to know so you can write with confidence. First, we define the primary objectives of argumentative vs. persuasive writing. We.
You don’t need to be a nerd to understand the general idea behind cause and effect essays. Let’s see! If you skip a meal, you get hungry. And if you write an essay about it, your goal is achieved! However, following multiple rules of academic writing can be a tough.
![How to Write an Argumentative Essay: 101 Guide [+ Examples]](https://custom-writing.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/young-writer-taking-notes-284x153.jpg)
An argumentative essay is a genre of academic writing that investigates different sides of a particular issue. Its central purpose is to inform the readers rather than expressively persuade them. Thus, it is crucial to differentiate between argumentative and persuasive essays. While composing an argumentative essay, the students have to.
![How to Title an Essay: Guide with Creative Examples [2024]](https://custom-writing.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/close-up-woman-making-greeting-card-new-year-christmas-2021-friends-family-scrap-booking-diy-writing-letter-with-best-wishes-design-her-homemade-card-holidays-celebration-284x153.jpg)
It’s not a secret that the reader notices an essay title first. No catchy hook or colorful examples attract more attention from a quick glance. Composing a creative title for your essay is essential if you strive to succeed, as it: Thus, how you name your paper is of the.
The conclusion is the last paragraph in your paper that draws the ideas and reasoning together. However, its purpose does not end there. A definite essay conclusion accomplishes several goals: Therefore, a conclusion usually consists of: Our experts prepared this guide, where you will find great tips on how to.
![How to Write a Good Introduction: Examples & Tips [2024 Upd.]](https://custom-writing.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/closeup-shot-woman-working-studying-from-home-with-red-coffee-cup-nearby-284x153.jpg)
A five-paragraph essay is one of the most common academic assignments a student may face. It has a well-defined structure: an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Writing an introduction can be the most challenging part of the entire piece. It aims to introduce the main ideas and present.
