Getting started with critical analysis of an artwork...
African stitch resist dyed indigo cotton, 20th c., from The Textiles Collection: University for the Creative Arts at Farnham. Image sourced from VADS digital collections and resized from original.
Researching a work of art
When planning your strategy to research a work of art, some basic questions to start out with are:
Where did you see it (or where is it located)?
If you know where the work is located, look at the institution’s website for more details about the piece. Museums and galleries will usually have the most updated information on items in their collections. Museums also sometimes have collection-specific guides to support researchers.
Who is the artist?
Researching the artist is often the best way to learn about the art work you have chosen.
- Look for facts about their life, education, experience and world events that shaped their thinking.
- Track down discussions of the medium (why they choose the materials they do and their choice of methods.)
- Can you find discussion by the artist on their collaboration with, or inspiration by, others?
- How do they react/incorporate the environment they find themselves in?
- How does the work reflect their cultural context and/or identity?
Sometimes this information comes from the artist themselves through writings, lectures, interviews and exhibition notes. See the “Biographical Research” page for more.
What if you don’t know who the artist is?
If you do not know the artist of your object, research the characteristics of the work.
- Where was it created?
- When was it made?
- What style is it? How can you tell?
- What materials are used?
- What are some similar works?
This will help you learn the context of your object and make informed conclusions about the work. Use other works/artists that are similar as examples to support your ideas.
Looking at the work:
Remember that art is information. What information is being communicated to you through the work of art, and how is it being communicated? Is it directly through language and symbols, is it emotional? How do you receive the information? What conversations are you engaging with the piece?
