Formal analysis is a technique that allows a student writing about art to focus a reader's attention on the work of art through a description of what one sees. The initial description indicates the general structure of the work; the formal analysis examines the overall composition and interrelationship of the major parts.

How is it done? One begins by identifying what you are writing about by artist, title, date, medium, and other relevant facts. Then one provides a one$-$ to two$-$sentence description of the overall work. This is followed with a summary of the work's most prominent aspects $($e$.$g$.,$ its color, size, or shape, among others$).$ One should avoid value judgments $($e$.$g$..$ beautiful, sloppy, magnificent, well$-$executed$)$ and emotional projection $("$I really liked this."$).$ The reader should be able to draw a basic but reasonable copy of the work after reading what you wrote based on what you only see$/$saw$.$