Formal Analysis: Visual Qualities

Knowing the elements and principles is the key to visual literacy. Often called formal analysis because it focuses on form rather than subject matter or historical context.

To describe visual qualities systematically, art historians rely on an established set of terms and concepts called the elements and principles. Visual qualities of works made by an individual artist or, more generally, by artists working in the same time and place, typically have common features. Art historians call these shared characteristics style.

Artists make their best work when they understand how to control the viewer's eye, emotions and effectively communicate their ideas. When you know how to read an artwork through this visual language, you become more aware of the details of fine art, fashion, architecture, design and craft. You can therefore better appreciate, critique and speak about what you see and the message behind your own and others work.

Comparative study (A slide)

The focus in the A slide is to identify and analyze the formal qualities in your selected piece. In order to do this, you need to start by looking at the piece through the lens of its visual qualities. The A slide is a great opportunity to demonstrate your subject-specific vocabulary. This slide should contain no biographical information or descriptions of subject matter, instead it should focus on elements, principles, technique, media and time (where applicable).

A: Identification and analysis of formal qualities - 6 points

an informed identification and analysis of the formal qualities of the selected artworks, objects and artifacts.

At the highest level of achievement, the work provides a consistent, insightful and informed identification and analysis of the formal qualities of the selected pieces.

What qualities and properties does my piece have to analyze?

Sensory Properties - qualities that we experience through our senses: shape, line, texture, value, color, space, and scale

Formal Properties - how sensory properties are organized to achieve a sense of unity, balance, movement, and dominance

Technical Properties - appearances of shapes, values, colors, etc., that are due to the use of particular materials and techniques

Expressive Properties – a dramatic subject such as a crucifixion that can evoke feeling of fear, loneliness, joy and ideals

WHERE TO START?

Start by listening to some of the art critics below discuss the formal qualities of the specific pieces. Take note of the difference between describing and analyzing. Describing is a great place to start because it's an easy way to observe the artwork or artifact in a non judgmental manner. Your goal on this slide is to identify and analyze. Analyzing means to break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure.
Go through each element (Line, shape, form, space, value, texture and color) to determine which visual methods the artist used to visually communicate. Then do the same for the principles. Consider the composition strategies used. Do you think this piece has greater variety or Harmony? Did the artist achieve visual unity?
Use the annotation visual organizer to help illustrate your thinking.

Listen to some art critics discuss the formal qualities

START BY DESCRIBING

Describing what you see: Sculpture (Henry Moore, Reclining Figure)

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Describing what you see: Sculpture Henry Moore, Reclining Figure, 1951, plaster and string, 105.4 x 227.3 x 89.2 cm (Tate Britain).

Looking at paintings

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Discover the elements of art seen in such masterpieces as The Dream of Pope Sergius by van der Weyden, La Promenade by Renoir, River Landscape by Koninck, Still Life with Apples by Cézanne, The Entombment by Rubens, Christ Crowned with Thorns by van Honthorst, Vase of Flowers by van Huysum, and Irises by van Gogh.

How to do visual (formal) analysis in art history

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Giovanni Bellini, Madonna of the Meadow, c. 1500, oil and egg on synthetic panel, transferred from wood, 67.3 x 86.4 cm (The National Gallery) Speakers: Dr. Steven Zucker and Dr. Beth Harris.

Art historical analysis (painting), a basic introduction using Goya's Third of May, 1808

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Francisco de Goya, Third of May, 1808, 1814, oil on canvas, 266 x 345.1 cm (Museo del Prado. Madrid). Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.

Elements of art

LINE, SHAPE, FORM, SPACE, VALUE, TEXTURE AND COLOR click HERE

Principles of Design

In order to discuss the principles, you need to explain the composition (how the elements are organized through the principles).

Your goal through formal analysis, is to determine whether your artwork has visual unity and to analyze the style of the artwork.

Styles vary over time and place, so like media and technique, they can be analyzed to determine the origin of an artwork or artifact.

Harmony

Is the similarity of elements to create a sense of cohesion amongst otherwise separate parts. Artists use it to create a sense of calm and pleasing interactions.

Visual unity

A balance of harmony and variety. It's the impression or feeling of oneness and completeness an artwork can have.

Variety

When an artist places different visual elements next to one another, he/she is using variety. Artists use it to create interest, energy and emotion.

How Do You Achieve Harmony in Art?
The artist's network
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Harmony

Achieved by:

Repetition
Rhythm
Pattern
Closure
Transparency
Extensions

Examples:

A set of colors that relate according to a specific scheme creates harmony.
A uniform texture of brush strokes across the surface of a canvas creates harmony.
A composition that incorporates only curvy shapes creates harmony.

When an artwork uses too much harmony, the artwork can feel boring or monotonous (dull) static or unemotional.

Variety

Achieved by:

Juxtaposition
Contrast
Distortion

Examples:

Inconsistent scale or light
A combination of both curvy and geometric shapes.
Straight lines next to curvy lines add variety.
Bright colors next to dull colors add variety.

When an artwork uses too much variety, the viewer can't tell what the focal point or purpose of the piece might be. The work might look too chaotic , pointless or incomprehensible.

Caravaggio created a scene of action and energy by contrasting both light/dark values and opposing directional lines.

Contrast

Used to create variety, visual interest, and drama in an artwork.

Achieved by:

Arranging opposite elements and effects

Examples:

A combination of both light and dark colors
A combination of both smooth and rough textures
A combination of both large and small shapes

TIPS FOR CREATING AND IDENTIFYING CONTRAST

Balance

Balance refers to the distribution of weight or visual heaviness of shapes and forms in an artwork. An artwork’s balance affects the equality and tension of the composition and can lend a feeling of calm or chaos to the work.

Achieved by:

Distributing visual weight within your design (symmetry, approximate symmetry, asymmetry, radial, optical)
Counterbalancing key areas of interest throughout the artwork

Examples:

Brighter colors have more visual weight than neutral tones.
“Harder” shapes like squares seem heavier than “softer” shapes like circles.
A thicker line will appear heavier than a thinner one.

TIPS FOR CREATING AND IDENTIFYING BALANCE

Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando) (Japanese, 1797-1858). Minowa, Kanasugi, Mikawashima, No. 102 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, 5th month of 1857. Woodblock print, Sheet: 14 3/16 x 9 1/4 in. (36 x 23.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Anna Ferris, 30.1478.102 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 30.1478.102_PS1.jpg)

Proportion

Proportion is the size relationship between the various parts of an artwork. It also relates to our perception of perspective and proportion. Artists can use the scale and proportion to create sensations such as depth, realism, disorientation, and drama.

Achieved by:

All parts of the work are in scale or consistent relative to human dimensions --> harmony
Use the Golden rectangle composition strategy --> harmony
varying size relationship (scale) between the objects in the painting to create meaning in the artwork --> variety

Examples:

Hierarchical scale is a technique used in art, in which the artist depicts objects with an unnatural scale to show their importance.
Light of sight composition strategy can emphasize space and distance
Ideal proportion first used by the Greek sculpture Polyclitus.

TIPS FOR CREATING AND IDENTIFYING PROPORTION

Dominance

The area of an artwork that dominates attention, assumes the most importance or draws interest. It is often the place a viewer looks first (focal point).

Achieved by:

Isolation
Placement
Direction
Scale
Character

Examples:

Create dominance using intensity of light
Create dominance using complementary colors and atmospheric perspective
Create dominance by using marker in a small area of a pencil drawing

Tips for creating dominance with different elements

Movement

Starting with the focal point, where your eyes then travel around the artwork using visual pathways. There can be literal movement or compositional (implied) movement created.

Achieved by:

Rhythm suggests movement or action. Rhythm is usually achieved through repetition of lines, shapes, colors, and more. It creates a visual tempo in artworks and provides a path for the viewer’s eye to follow.
Compositional movement may be classified as static: that is, movement of the eye that jumps and hops between separate components of the image, attracted by similarities and simply shifting to shapes with related shape or color.
Movement may also be classified as dynamic. Dynamic movement is characterized by movement of the eye that flows smoothly from one area of the composition to another, guided by continuations of line or form, and by gradations of color or form.
Actual movement is possible in artworks that actually move like kinetic sculpture.