Formal Analysis Questions

Technique and Materials

• How was this object made? Which materials were used?

Composition

• What is the focus of the composition? Does the work suggest a narrative (a story) or a sense of time?

Light, Color, Perspective

• What is the effect of light and shadow–is it even or sharply contrasting?
• Are the colors warm, cool, or monochrome? Saturated or muted? How are they placed across the work?
• Does the artist convey a sense of perspective? How? Is the space intentionally distorted?

Function and Context

• What might be significant about the time period in which the work was created?
• What was the original context for the work? How was it used?

Collecting History and Museology

• What is the present state or condition of this object? What has led to this state?
• How is the work displayed in the museum, and in relation to which other objects?