Problem
• Describe and explain the art work to someone who appreciates art but does not know this specific work. There will be a formal reading of the work using appropriate art terms. At the heart of the paper will be a reading of the content: what does the artist intend through this work? Why did she make it this way? What do you think the work means? How does it make you feel? What formal means are used to generate these thoughts and feelings? If the work of art is more conceptual than formal, the formal part of the essay can be shorter, but the description and content reading will be longer and go into more depth.
• Have a clearly stated thesis in the first paragraph. The first or second paragraph will have the work's title, size, date, medium, and location. Before any analysis, there will be a clear, evocative, denotative description that allows the reader to visualize the work so as to better understand the analysis that follows. The description should fill a full paragraph.
A short paragraph in the final section will locate the work in its art historical context or in comparison to the artist's other work. Much of the final section will consist of a critical evaluation of the art work that develops out of your earlier comments. This is a reasoned judgement of the work (not mere opinion). You will state what you believe to be the artist's goal in making this piece (you may quote the artist's statement), and show if, if not, or to what degree she or he was successful. The conclusion should summarize your ideas. You can also add your subjective thoughts here.