Starry Night Formal Analysis

The formal analysis of an artwork is important when organizing visual information. It is the techniques used to help decipher what is seen into written words. The concepts of formal analysis can be used with any work of art, no matter the time-period, whether it be a painting, sculpture, or building. The Formal Elements, together, make up an artwork. The elements are shape, tone, line, form, pattern, texture, color, and composition. The way they are arranged in an art piece, governs what the finished product will look like. The artist has a specific way of arranging the elements. The elements have various qualities and meanings. They each have a purpose in the artwork. A line for example, can draw the eye to a specific part of the art piece and color can emphasize a region of the artwork that the artist wants the viewer to pay closer attention to. The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh was painted in June of 1889. The view is from his room at Saint-Remy-de-Provence asylum. This piece was supposedly painted from memory and the stars are said to be based on a constellation Van Gogh had seen earlier. One of the first things that catches the viewers eye is the swirling …show more content…
All the elements support one another and create this vibrant piece that is still admired today. Van Gogh was said to be sick or diseased during the time period the painting is from, the way the artwork is assembled suggests a battel within. The colors and techniques show different meanings within the work. Some interpret hope while others interpret insanity and isolation. The meaning of the work is objective to the viewer. Art is meant to convey emotions or feelings toward something. The viewer is supposed to look at a work of art and decipher the message on their own. The piece will evoke the feelings and emotions from the audience because the use of the formal elements help the viewers understand the work on a deeper