Visual analysis, essay. Portrait of an Old ManVincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890), Antwerp, December 1885oil on canvas, 44.4 cm x 33.7 cmCredits (obliged to state): Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

he work of art can be any media: painting, drawing, photograph, installation, sculpture, fibers, fashion, video installation, etc. The essay is intended to be a visual and conceptual analysis based on your own observations, utilizing vocabulary words learned in class. Historical research is not part of this assignment but you may glean information presented on the gallery label if it contributes to your appreciation of the work of art. Be sure to credit the source for your information, such as the label or information given by a docent. You may not, however, regurgitate the information on the label, as the essay is to consist of your own, personal analysis. This essay is not a formal research paper, but rather an indication that the material presented in class has enabled you to effectively critique a work of art based on the principles of design, the background of art history, and your own opinion of what constitutes a successful (or unsuccessful) work of art. First person narrative is acceptable. Length and format for Visual Analysis Essay: Length:800 words, excluding title pageFormatting:Contains title page (see below)Essay’s text aligned to the left (not center, not justify)Times New Roman font, 12-pointDouble-spacedOne-inch margins on all sides. Grading form for Visual Analysis Essay: Format: Paper is correct length, formatted correctly, contains a title page.Titles of works of art are italicized. (Yes, you are graded on this)Spelling, grammar and clarity: 10 points: Essay is well-written, organized and coherentContent: 30 points: Description: Thorough and evocative description of the work of artAnalysis: Sophisticated observation of the compositionInterpretation: Articulate and insightful interpretations based on observationsJudgment: Expresses personal opinion in an educated mannerProper use of vocabulary: Uses 2-4 vocabulary words correctly and in context Content of Visual Analysis Essay: Your visual analysis essay is to follow four general steps or activities: description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment. For more detailed information on these four steps, consult “Feldman’s The Four Steps of Art Criticism” handout available below. IntroductionBefore you begin your analysis you need to introduce your work of art. Tell the reader which museum you went to and which work of art you are writing about. Be sure to provide the title of the work of art and the artist’s name. DescriptionBefore you analyze a work of art you need to describe it. Identify the subject of the work of art (ex: still life, portrait, history painting, landscape, etc.). Thoroughly describe the work of art’s appearance: the overall scene and specific observations.Imagine that the reader has never seen the work of art before; your description should be detailed and evocative enough for the reader to imagine the work of art in his/her head. A photograph is not a substitute for a thorough and accurate description. Use vocabulary words where applicable.This is where you should demonstrate an understanding of the subject of the work of art (see the information about research, below). If the work of art is a story from the Bible, for instance, summarize the story and identify the characters in the scene. If the work of art depicts a subject from history, tell me what happened. AnalysisAnalyzing a composition strikes some students as challenging, but it simply involves separating the whole artwork into its parts.Consider the color scheme. Note how the artist has arranged the visual elements. What is the focal point of the piece? How is that element deemed the focal point? Consider colors, patterns, lines, contrasts, etc. How does the artist lead your eye across the work of art? Which areas are given special emphasis? Have any elements been exaggerated or abstracted? How does the composition complement the content of the work of art and the artist’s intent? Use vocabulary words where applicable.Consult chapters 3 and 4 for guidance on this step. InterpretationThis should be the longest part of your essay. Try to understand the meaning of the work of art based on your observations. What do you think the artist was trying to say? What was the artist’s objective? Does the work convey any sort of mood or idea? Do you think there is an underlying message or moral to the work of art? Is there a certain objective or agenda promoted in the artwork? (Think back to Chapter 2’s “Purposes and Functions of Art”)(And please, don’t simply answer those questions I just wrote out. This is the bulk of your essay: interpret the work of art. By now you should have an understanding of art and art history, so show me what you’ve learned by applying that information to a work of art you’ve seen) Judgment/ ConclusionThis element of your essay is similar to the interpretation. You are telling me your reaction to the piece. Why did you choose this work of art, out of all the works in the museum? Discuss the strengths and merit of the work of art. Your judgment will be based on education as well as personal preference. VocabularyYou are asked to use at least 2 vocabulary terms in your final essay, correctly and in context. Your terms can be used anywhere in the essay.In addition to considering terms related to the technique and composition you can also draw a comparison between the work of art in your essay and a work or style studied in class. For instance, you can write about how “This work of art reminds me of the Impressionist style because. This is just an example.  You can find this painting  Portrait of an Old ManVincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890), Antwerp, December 1885oil on canvas, 44.4 cm x 33.7 cmCredits (obliged to state): Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation) at this website https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/collection