Title of your critical analysis
Name
Introduction: Why did you choose this
artwork? What about it inspires you? How do
you think it will influence your artwork?
Claude Monet, The Gare Saint-Lazare (or Interior View of the
Gare Saint-Lazare, the Auteuil Line), 1877, oil on canvas, 75
x 104 cm (Musée d’Orsay). Wikimedia Commons. Web. 17
Dec. 2019.
Biography of the Artist
Where is the artist from? When did they live?
Significant events during their life? Include
information about the artist that helps us
understand their unique perspective.
Style or Type of artwork
Describe the style or type of artwork. Use
visual examples whenever possible to explain
the style across multiple artworks. How does
the artist embody this style?
Historical and Cultural
Context
Describe important historical events, like
wars, plagues, new laws, scientific
discoveries, etc. Describe important cultural
practices or expectations.
Claude Monet, The Gare Saint-Lazare (or Interior View of the
Gare Saint-Lazare, the Auteuil Line), 1877, oil on canvas, 75
x 104 cm (Musée d’Orsay). Wikimedia Commons. Web. 17
Dec. 2019.
Formal Analysis
What are your first impressions and feelings
when looking at the work?
Identify and describe 4 elements or
principles within the artwork.
Analyze how these visual aspects influence
the meaning and the mood of the artwork.
Overlay diagrams and use cropped versions
of the artwork to illustrate your analysis.
Claude Monet, The Gare Saint-Lazare (or Interior View of the
Gare Saint-Lazare, the Auteuil Line), 1877, oil on canvas, 75
x 104 cm (Musée d’Orsay). Wikimedia Commons. Web. 17
Dec. 2019.
Cultural Analysis
Function and Purpose
Describe 3-4 functions of the artwork within
the cultural context.
Cultural Significance
Describe the material, conceptual, and
cultural significance of the work.
Use relevant images of the cultural context
to illustrate your analysis.
Illustration of the Gare Saint-Lazare in 1868 Wikimedia
Commons. Web. 17 Dec. 2019.
Analysis from another
critical perspective
What observations do you have about the
context of the artwork, artist, or things seen
within the work?
How do you interpret the meaning and
purpose of the work from this perspective?
Use reference images whenever possible to
illustrate your points.
Claude Monet, The Gare Saint-Lazare (or Interior View of the
Gare Saint-Lazare, the Auteuil Line), 1877, oil on canvas, 75
x 104 cm (Musée d’Orsay). Wikimedia Commons. Web. 17
Dec. 2019.
List of Sources
At least 6 sources in MLA format