How to View Art: for Beginners

I am a museum frequenter, especially art museums. Art can be very complex to take in, and I used to view each piece briefly and skim the information plate. Now, one of my favorite things I have learned is how to view art like an art historian. 

First, you really have to look at the art. I do not mean a glance; I mean really look. This is not a passive or quick task. One of the most important skills of an art historian is patience, other than writing and research, of course. If you want to fully grasp the image you are viewing, you must give it time to speak to you. Today, we are used to the fast-paced nature of online culture, particularly spending only a few seconds viewing something and deciding if it's worth our time. 

When you view a painting, try to view it for a long time. If you find yourself getting distracted, think about the colors, the paint's texture, the fabrics painted (if present), the shapes in the painting (if present), etc. You might notice that your imagination is creating the story behind what you are viewing, and this is exactly where you want to be.

Aspects to Take In

The What: Subject Matter

• Anything identifiable in the painting

The How: Formal Elements

• Composition: the arrangement of visual elements within the painting

Lines: types of lines (curved, straight, implied) and their effect on the painting

Shape and Form: the use of organic or geometric shapes and three-dimensional forms

Color: color harmony, palette, contrasts, and symbolic use

Texture: implied or real surface quality (smooth, rough, etc.)

Light and Shadow: the use of light and shadow to create drama and depth

Space: techniques to depict depth, perspective, and overlapping

Scale and Proportion: the size relationships within the painting

Now, the formal elements are finally done. The formal elements are vital to the visual analysis as they break down the components that contribute to our understanding of paintings. Once we gather this information, we can start to ask why. 

Get to viewing! 

With love,

Kierstyn

Image from Pinterest