The veteran in a new field by winslow homer, formal analysis.Look at the painting and describe what you see using the language found in the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design.
-This is not a research paper -A formal analysis paper focuses more on the construction of a work.
-Write as if you are explaining the painting to someone who can’t see the painting. A brief emotional/psychological interpretation is fine but not our focus here and not required.
Using the Elements and Principles, explain what you see in the painting. If you don’t see an element then say so – but be sure you don’t see it. The questions listed here are only starting points-you can expand 2.5.1 Elements of art/design (Page 48) • Line: Where and what type of lines? • Shape: Where and what types? • Mass/Volume: Do you see an illusion of Mass/Volume? Where? • Perspective: Does the artist use 1 or 2 point perspective? or Atmospheric perspective? How? • Color: What colors are used? What are the hues, values, saturation/intensity? Where? Percentages? Warm colors? Cool colors? • Texture: Actual or implied? Where? 2.5.2 Principles of design (Page 62) • Unity/Variety: What is similar? What is different? • Scale/Proportion: Naturalistic or distorted scale/proportion? Describe. • Balance: Asymmetrical or Symmetrical? and why? • Emphasis/Movement: How does the artist create visual emphasis? Usually it is some type of contrast. Describe. • Rhythm/Repetition: What elements repeat? does it create a rhythm?