Visual analysis essay | Art and Society Prehistoric to Gothic | University of Houston

3 – Page, Double Spaced, 12-point font

LENGTH REQUIREMENTS DO NOT INCLUDE TITLE PAGE & BIBLIOGRAPHY PAGE

INTRODUCTION:  

IDENTIFY the work you chose as above (based on museum wall label: be sure to CITE the Museum wall label (see “Choosing, Using, and Citing Sources” (on Blackboard) for the correct format for citing Museum labels) 

STATE YOUR THESIS: brief statement of the most important visual 

elements and the impact or effects they produce 

 

BODY OF TEXT: DESCRIBE & ANALYZE  

Describe the work in terms of the formal or visual elements listed above (according to their relevance to your object) and explain how they work to create the effects they have on the viewer. What feelings or ideas do the subject matter, visual, and physical characteristics of the work convey and how do they achieve that? 

o Include the materials and techniques used: these should be noted on the Museum wall label; however, you may have to rely on what you have learned in class regarding the techniques employed 

o Don’t just name the technique, also explain it and the results it allows the artist to achieve (eg. high relief, sunken relief, red-figure, bronze casting, etc.) 

CONCLUSION  :

Briefly review your principal points about what you described and concluded from your analysis. Also, relate the points you make in the conclusion to what you stated as your thesis. FLUFFY OR VAGUE CONCLUSIONS WILL LOSE POINTS!!