Writing a Visual Analysis
Don't have an art background? Don't worry. You probably know a lot more than you realize.
Modern people are surrounded by images every day. Even if you don't know the terms of how
people analyze art, you will be familiar with many of the tricks that artists use to create a
reaction in the reader, such as making the most important images larger and light, and the less
important ones in the background or fading darker. You can also easily recognize symbolic
colors, such as: red means emergency or blood or danger; green means safe and close to
nature; and blue means cool and relaxed.
Most visual analysis papers will require a clear and vivid description of the image along with an
analysis of the visual composition of the picture in order to explain how the artist put the image
together to create meaning. Although visual analysis essays often focus a lot on the details of
describing the image, you will also need a thesis which tells what the images mean. There are
several ways to do this and your assignment may tell you in which direction to go. Here are
some typical ways to analyze images for meaning:
o Analyze the meaning of the image for the artist and his or her time
o Analyze the meaning of the image for you and your time
o Analyze the changes in meaning of an image over the course of time
o Analyze the audience’s reaction to the image
o Analyze your own reaction and evaluate the effectiveness of the image
Using the Visual Elements of Design chart will help you to describe the visual elements of the
picture and analyze how each element helps to create meaning.
The text of this handout was taken and adapted from https://letterpile.com/writing/How-to-Write-a-
Visual-Analysis-Paper.
Visual Elements of Design
Element Definition Key Questions Why important
How the image is put What is main
The way different parts of an image
together. Where figure? How are
are put together draws the viewer’s
things are placed in other figures
Composition attention to some parts more than
relationship to one placed in relation
others. It also creates tone, mood
another and to the to main figure?
and meaning.
space of the canvas. What is left out?
Which elements of
design are most
The different aspects
important in this Meaning comes from what the artist
Elements of the artist can use to
piece (color, line, uses and also what he or she
Design put together the
texture, shape, doesn't use.
image.
form, value, size,
text, movement)?
What is the focal
point? What
Where your attention Understanding the focal point helps
elements of design
Focal Point is drawn to in the you understand the meaning of the
does the artist use
picture picture.
to create the focal
point?
What colors are
All of the colors as
used? How do
well as black, white
these colors affect
and neutrals.
the tone, mood Color can create meaning by
Monochromatic
and meaning of the creating moods, highlighting
means using one
Color image? Are colors particular parts of the image,
color.
used in predictable connecting aspects of the image, or
Complementary
or unpredictable by being symbolic.
means using colors
ways? (example:
opposite one another
predictable is red
on the color wheel.
for danger)
Actual lines in How do lines draw
picture or lines your attention
Artists use lines to draw your
Line created by the towards or away
attention to the focal point.
placement of other from certain parts
objects. of the picture?
Texture is how rough Where is texture in
or smooth something the image and how
is, or the pattern it does this texture
Texture links images to real objects
has. Texture can be create an
Texture and the use of senses other than
real on three expectation in the
sight.
dimensional art, or audience of a
represented on two particular touch
dimensional art. sensation?
The text of this handout was taken and adapted from https://letterpile.com/writing/How-to-Write-a-
Visual-Analysis-Paper.
How are shapes
used in the art?
The way in which the
Where does
artist uses circles, Our eyes tend to focus on familiar
shape, or
Shape squares, rectangles, shapes and see shapes in two
relationships
ovals and other dimensional art.
between shapes
shapes in the art.
help your eye to
focus?
Where has the
artist used shading
How light and
or light to highlight Form can contribute to making an
shading techniques
some aspect of the image seem more real, and also to
make a two
Form image? Does add importance to a part of the
dimensional object
some part of the picture through shading and use of
look like it has three
image stand out as light.
dimensions.
having three
dimensions?
How are light and
dark used in this
picture? Is there a
Value can be used along with color.
Degree of light and symbolic use of
Extreme changes in value create
Value dark in different parts light and dark?
contrast which is often used to
of the picture. Does the artist use
provide meaning.
light or dark to
highlight the focal
point?
Why did the artist
Size can refer to the choose this size for
overall size of the the piece? What is
Variation in the size of shapes and
Size image and also the the meaning of the
lines indicates relative significance.
relative size of items difference between
in the image. sizes of elements
in the image?
Specific parts of the Are any of the
design which have aspects of this
symbolic or historical piece symbolic? Symbols draw on cultural meanings
Symbolic
meaning (such as a Does the artist which can work differently for
Elements
cross for Christianity, intend to use the different audiences.
or triangles for the symbolism directly
Trinity). or to invert it?
The text of this handout was taken and adapted from https://letterpile.com/writing/How-to-Write-a-
Visual-Analysis-Paper.