ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORKS – FORMAL
Analytical Frameworks are a means of interpreting and analysing the meaning of artworks.
Symbolism is an integral part of all artworks. Symbolism may be included by the artist in
the artwork intentionally or may simply be interpreted by the viewer as part of the artwork.
The FORMAL Analytical Framework is used to analyse how an artwork’s formal elements
and principles contribute to its meaning and messages.
When using the Formal Analytical Framework it is important to utilise the following
questions to analyse the meanings inherent in the artwork.
Visual Analysis
How have the formal elements of line, colour, tone, texture, shape, sound and form been
applied by the artist and to what effect? How do these qualities contribute to the meanings
and messages of the work?
Technique
What materials and techniques have been used? How do the materials used or the
technical skill shape or effect the interpretation? Is this because of the type of materials
used or is it due to the application of these materials by the artist?
Style
What are the distinctive stylistic qualities of the artwork and how do they contribute to the
meaning? How does the work relate to other works of a similar style or form from the same
historical period or cultural background?
Symbols and Metaphors
What physical aspects or presentation of the artwork contain symbolic meaning and the
use of metaphor?
It is important when using any of the Analytical Frameworks that you write in FULL sentences and structure
your analysis like an essay. Use the following three-stage plan as a guideline. Include all of the information
within each section:
Stage One: Visual Analysis
Artist’s name, date (when it was made), title, materials used.
Give a description of what you see in the artwork. Try to pretend that you are explaining the work to
someone who has not seen it. Describe it in detail. Are there qualities of the artwork that create a particular
meaning? Use art terms.
Stage Two: Exploring Techniques
What materials and techniques have been used?
How has the artist applied the material/s?
What effect has been created by using these techniques?
What processes has the artist used to create the work?
What type of emotion or symbolism was the artist trying to portray with their techniques?
Stage Three: Explaining Style
What has influenced the production of the artwork?
Was there a specific idea behind the work? Does the work appear to be representational or nonrepresentational? Is it high art or low art? Abstract? Realistic?
Was it designed to tell a story? What art movement does it come from?
In what ways do the stylistic qualities affect your understanding of the work’s meaning?
Does it place the work within a historical or cultural context or does it reflect the artist’s personal style?
Stage Four: Symbols and Metaphors
What art elements and principles has the artist used as symbols? Describe what these are and what they
represent.
How has the composition been arranged to give symbolic meaning? What images or objects in the artwork
are symbolic?
Are the techniques the artist used symbolic? Describe how the artist has used the techniques to suggest a
particular idea.
Is the style of the artwork symbolic? If the artwork comes form a particular period of art or is created in a
particular style, it may convey a particular idea of the time, context and culture in which it was produced.