How can I understand more about an image?
- Look long. Spend more time looking than you usually would. Do nothing but look for a full minute. Try 5 minutes.
- Look close. What do you see? Describe it with the most vivid words you can think of.
- Look again. Try drawing it.
- Look critically. What do you think of it? Why do you think so?
- Look thoughtfully. What do you think the artist meant?
- Look into it. Do some investigation into the artist, the subject, or the medium.
Duke’s LibGuide to Visual Literacy
http://guides.library.duke.edu/vislit
Duke’s LibGuide to researching works of art
http://guides.library.duke.edu/individual-works
Thompson Writing Center Guides
Art History and Visual Studies http://uwp.duke.edu/writing-studio/resources/writing-for-specific-disciplines
Visual Analysis http://uwp.duke.edu/uploads/assets/visual_analysis.pdf
Formal Analysis (understanding the visual makeup of an image)
http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/formal_analysis.html
Art Criticism and Formal Analysis
http://www.uwgb.edu/malloyk/art_criticism_and_formal_analysi.htm
Visuals and design
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/691/01/
Credit: Visitors at the opening event for "Building the Contemporary Collection: Five Years of Acquisitions" take in Dan Perjovschi's "Postcards from America," 1994-1995, an installation of 72 postcards (ink and graphite on paper mounted on cardboard). The work is part of the Nasher Museum's permanent collection and a gift of Kristine Stiles. Photo by Dr. J Caldwell.
Permalink: http://nasher.duke.edu/howdoyoulook/understanding.php
Nasher Museum Homepage