Complete a formal analysis of a work of art in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Your analysis will be broken down into four sections: Describe, Analyze, Interpret, and evaluate. Special emphasis should be placed on the analysis section. The work of art must either be a landscape or still life. An image of the work of art you selected and a link to its page on the MOMA website must be attached or 10% will be deducted from your assignment. This must be written in paragraph form with each paragraph corresponding to each section. Your paragraphs must be at least five sentences.
Below you will find a link to the Google Art Project page for the MOMA, an explanation of each of the four sections of your formal analysis (critique), as well as a descriptive list of the elements of art and principles of design.
Description: Describe what you see by making a list. The list should include items from the credit line, things going on in the artwork, and the subject.
Analysis: Analyze how the artist used the elements of art and the principles of design. Example questions: what is the dominant element of art? how did the artist use balance? What area is emphasized? How did the artist use rhythm, movement, contrast?
Interpretation: Explain your interpretation of what the artwork means. Try to explain what the artist is trying to communicate. Use the clues you found in description and analysis to base your interpretation.
Evaluation: Use your own judgment here. Explain if and why you like or dislike the artwork. Explain whether the artist was effective in communicating a message to the viewer.