Writing about Artworks – Do’s and Don’ts
Writing terms and techniques… tasks you will be asked to complete:
To annotate
To make short notes explaining or clarifying a point or drawing the viewer’s attention to something of
relevance (e.g. ‘the wide range of tones here adds drama and interest’).
To analyze
To look closely and in detail at an artwork, noting down as many points as you can about the piece.
These points might cover things like:
o Composition (the organization of shapes within the work)
o Use of color / tone
o Medium used (oil paint, photography, pastel)
o Mood or emotion created
o Content / narrative (what’s happening in this artwork? Is there a story?)
o Issues covered (i.e. political, social, religious issues?)
To compare and contrast
To analyze two or more artworks at once, focusing on the similarities and differences between them.
This is often easier than analyzing a single artwork.
To evaluate
To make personal judgments about the artwork and to give your reasons i.e. Do you like the artwork?
Why? What is good about it? What is not so good? The reasons for this will, of course, come from your
analysis.