Art is more than a picture or a piece of writing—it’s an expression. And no matter what your education or career is there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll find yourself in a moment or two when you’ll have to analyze art. Now if you’ve never really put thought into interpreting art, the chances of you not being able to decipher the piece are also pretty high. So how about we change that today? How about we discuss a few tips that’ll help you nail the next time you’ve to analyze art? Then let’s get to it!

What’s the Artist’s Purpose?

Yes, that the first question you should address when you’re trying to interpret art. You have to try and get into the artist’s mind and see things from their eyes. Artists mostly have a reason for choosing a certain subject and style. Think about why the painting is in abstract design or that specific art form. As you seek to find answers to such question, you’ll find that you’re on your road to getting a better idea of decoding the art piece.

Is There a Historical Context?

If you’re looking at a rather old piece of art, then there’s probably a historical context to it. Artists often create pieces depending on their state of mind, mood, social circumstances and overall state of affairs. And that can be difficult to understand if they’re from a time you don’t quite understand. So look it up. You might just find where the artist is coming from.

Try to Make Sense

When you see the piece for the first time, you see it as one whole piece and it can be very puzzling to understand—an enigma. But don’t give up. Take another look and this time, study it carefully—the colors, the patterns, the texture, everything. Soak it all in and try making sense of it. You’ll be surprised how putting in time and mind to the task can help get a better grasp of it.

What’s the Emotional Impact of the Piece?

More often than not, artists are inspired by their emotions. They usually paint and draw when they feel an emotional rush and then channel that energy into their art. Having said that, there’s a pretty good chance that the art piece has an emotional aspect that you’re missing. Look for it. It’s probably the very first feeling you got when you set your eyes on the artwork for the very first time.

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