How to "Read" an Artwork
The "reading" process is divided into three steps: 1. Description 2. Analysis and 3. Interpretation
Step 1 - Description: What do I see and know? (feel,
hear, smell, taste)?
What is the name of the artist who created the artwork?
What kind of an artwork is it?
What is the name of the artwork?
When was this artwork created?
Name some events in history that occurred at the same time this artwork was created.
Subject Matter
Can you see familiar objects? Can you see people, animals, etc.? Are they doing something? What? Is the artwork showing a place or event?
Lines. Has the artist used lines in the artwork? Describe the lines (straight, curving, squiggly, jagged, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, dotted, etc.).
Shapes. What kinds of shapes are in the artwork (round, rectangular, triangular, geometric, irregular, organic, large, small, worm-like, etc.)?
Textures. What kinds of textures did the artist use? Can you find a place where the artist used a rough texture? Smooth? Bumpy? Is the texture something you can feel or is it only an illusion?
Color. What colors has the artist used? Has the artist used one color more than others? Are the colors warm or cool? Are they bright or are they neutral?
Value. Do some areas look darker than the others do? Can you point to the lightest area? Does the artist use any value gradations?
Space. Does the space feel full or empty?
Depth. Are there things that look close to you or far away in the artwork? Do some parts of the artwork look 3-dimensional? Do you see others that look flat? How did the artist make them look that way?
Proportion. How do the sizes of objects in the painting compare to one another? To the viewer?
Emphasis. When you look at the artwork, is there a part or object you look at first? How has the artist emphasized this part? Is this part different from the rest? How is it the same? Where do you look next?
Perspective. Does the artist want the viewer to see this from a particular point of view? How can you tell?
Unity. Are there any art elements (lines, shapes, colors, textures) that are used throughout the artwork to keep the artwork unified?
Patterns. Are there any art elements the artist repeats or makes a pattern with? Does anything about the work create a rhythm?
Movement. Can you see parts of the artwork that look like they are moving?
Variety. Can you locate any art elements the artist has changed or varied to make the artwork more interesting?
Balance. When you look at both sides of the artwork, does each side look almost the same (symmetrical)? Does each side look different (asymmetrical)?
Harmony. Do the visual elements combine in a pleasing way, or are they jarring? How?
Contrast. Are there many contrasts in the painting? What kind?
Step 2- Analysis: What is the artwork about?
Do you think the artist was trying to make a close observational piece, to represent something the way it really looks (realistic)?
Was the artist trying to emphasize design elements like basic shapes and lines?
Was the artist trying to show energy and concentrate on movement?
Do you think there are things in the artwork that represent other things - symbols?
Was the artist trying to express a feeling or mood? What kind of feeling do you have when you look at the piece? What has the artist done to make you feel this way?
Do you think the artist was trying to make the most beautiful or ideal form of that subject? Is the artist depicting the subject critically? What makes you think so? Did the artist use a realistic or nonrealistic (expressive, abstract) way of showing this?
Based on what you have learned so far about the artwork, what do you think the artist was trying to say?
Step 3- Interpretation: So what?
Is the artwork important because of the idea it expresses, the message it gives us, or the event or place in history it shows us? Why?
Is the artwork important because of its creative new ideas or approaches?
What is the relationship between the artwork and its historical context? Is this important? Why or why not?
Using what you discovered in all three steps, answer the
following questions:
1.Interpretive Statement: Can I express what I think the
artwork is about in one sentence?
2.Evidence: What evidence inside or outside the artwork supports my interpretation?
Your results are your own unique interpretation of the
artwork. Good job!