Art Institute of Chicago
Description
Before you analyze a work of art you need to describe it. Identify the subject of the work of art (ex: still life, portrait, history painting, landscape, etc.). Thoroughly describe the work of art’s appearance: the overall scene and specific observations.
Imagine that the reader has never seen the work of art before; your description should be detailed and evocative enough for the reader to imagine the work of art in his/her head. A photograph is not a substitute for a thorough and accurate description. Use vocabulary words where applicable.
This is where you should demonstrate an understanding of the subject of the work of art (see the information about research, below). If the work of art is a story from the Bible, for instance, summarize the story and identify the characters in the scene. If the work of art depicts a subject from history, tell me what happened.
Interpretation
This should be the longest part of your essay. Try to understand the meaning of the work of art based on your observations.
What do you think the artist was trying to say? What was the artist’s objective? Does the work convey any sort of mood or idea? Do you think there is an underlying message or moral to the work of art? Is there a certain objective or agenda promoted in the artwork?
Judgment/ Conclusion
This element of your essay is similar to the interpretation. You are telling me your reaction to the piece. Why did you choose this work of art, out of all the works in the museum? Discuss the strengths and merit of the work of art. Your judgment will be based on education as well as personal preference.
Consult the instructions below for requirements on the length and formatting of the essay. Your essay should follow the exact same formula of Description, Analysis, Interpretation, Judgment, and Vocabulary.Your title page, however, will be slightly different:
