Artworks are creative representations in visual or tactile form that convey ideas, emotions and symbols. They can be made of any material that can be moulded or manipulated and may use a variety of techniques to achieve their effect. The study of the creation and interpretation of artworks is a specialist field known as art history and criticism.
The subject matter of an artwork can be anything from a landscape, seascape or portrait to a sculpture or building. Some works explore a specific historical event or scene, while others have more symbolic or ritualistic functions. The context in which an artwork emerges is a key factor in the way it is interpreted and understood, and can change dramatically between different cultures.
An artwork can also be an object that serves a functional purpose such as a door handle or light switch, or even something as mundane as a paperback book cover. However, art can be considered more than a tool for communication; it provides an opportunity to experience the world in new ways, and to explore the nature of perception and aesthetics.
For a long time it was thought that an artwork had to be a work of a permanent nature, but artistic movements such as readymades and conceptual art have dispelled this notion. In fact, we now often think of a performance or installation art piece as an artwork, even though it is temporary.
What are the main elements in this artwork? What is the balance of mass, line and shape? Is the composition symmetrical, asymmetrical or radial? Does it have a dominant axis of balance or symmetry, and where is that located? Does the composition appear chaotic or haphazard, or is it deliberately controlled and structured?
Is the composition based on a formal system of arrangement or mathematical proportion (i.e. the rule of thirds; golden ratio or spiral; grid format; geometric; a dominant triangle or circular composition)? Is the composition arranged in such a way that you can follow a visual ‘line’ from one end of the canvas or frame to the other (i.e. overlapping, clustered or concentrated items; patterned lining; frames within frames)? How does this organisational structure affect the composition and create a rhythm or flow in the work?
Does the work explore movement? Can you gain a sense of the way parts of the artwork are about to change or topple? Does the work incorporate a sense of movement in other ways such as blurred or sequential images; scene frozen mid-action; kinetic or video art?
Does the artwork incorporate recognisable objects, places or scenes? How are these presented? Are they idealized; realistic; distorted; stylized; or a combination of these? What effect does this have on the mood and emotion of the work?