Introduction
Formal analysis is a particular type of art description which explains visual elements of a piece of artwork. It explains the visual structure of the artwork and how they function within a composition. Formal analysis is restricted to what the analyst observes and does not consider the art in a context which is cultural or historical. This paper will be a formal analysis of two photographs; one of a warrior and the other of a monk. The sculptures will be described in detail and a trial made to determine the message being conveyed by the artist using the style and detail used in the artwork. The description will be based only on observable features displayed by the photographs in question.
The Warrior
The warrior stands on his two feet on a kind of platform, which itself lies on the ground. The right foot is positioned ahead of the left foot with the right leg projecting ahead slightly. He is wearing an armor including a protective head dress which is covering his under cloth. The armor extends to below his knees and his under cloth is visible here. It is very decorative armor with lots of patterns and curved lines. The armor also has an image of the half face of a severe looking man. The sculpture shows that the armor has been fastened on the shoulder with a piece of bronze. The upper and lower lids of the eye are narrow, and the lips are thin and squeezed tight. His eyebrows seem upturned, which suggests that his face muscles are strained. All this creates the image of a stern and almost scary man. The warrior is portrayed in a manner that shows he is walking. His posture, with his foot stretching towards us, generates a line and a means of access from his world into ours.
When viewing this photo, one’s eyes are likely to be concentrated on the strong and almost fierce look in his eyes and the stern mouth. The warrior appears uncompromising and unfriendly due to the sharp lines created by his mouth. He also has a beard which is long and descends past his chin. His left hand is holding a military baton of some sort while his left hand is resting on a sword hanging on his left hip. The upright position of the warrior is a sign of discipline, organization, valor, triumph and of intensity of purpose. The legs and feet of the warrior look bigger when compared to the rest of the body. This is a clear sign of how the warrior steps out and defeats his enemies and appears ready to engage in a fight or war and seems determined to fight and die for what he may believe in.
The Monk
The monk photograph illustrates a three quarter portrait of a mysterious monk who is bound by oaths of poverty, respect, and chastity. The monks face seems to be split and he seems to have four eyes, three noses and three mouths, all of which also appear hazy and blurred. His eyes are closed and he seems to be engaged in some form of meditation. The monk is bald and there are also two lines or creases on his forehead which suggest that his face is concentrated probably on his meditation. He holds a piece of spiritual jewelry in his right hand and a container on his left hand. This photo represents a somber mood which is suggested by the closed eyes and mouth of the monk. The monk also appears very serene and calm, a person who seems to have achieved the perfect balance of spirituality and materialism in the world. This has been exhibited by the stance of the monk, who is engrossed in meditation and stands with his eyes and mouth closed.
The monk is a wearing a robe which is draped over his frame and brings about the diversity of lines seen in the photograph. The line quality has therefore been well displayed in this photo; it is exhibited by flowing, curved, as well as straight lines. These lines in general strain on the horizontal axis. Some of these curved lines stand at the edges of the sculpture centered at the monk’s head. The whole image seems to be filled with dark spots which could be due to the material used to make the statue.
Conclusion
The two photographs are representative of the two realities of human existence; war and peace. War is represented by the warrior who seems set to fight. He is uncompromising, stern and holds on to instruments of war, his baton, and sword. He is also fully dressed in military armor. The monk represents peace. He is serene, somber and his closed eyes suggest that he is engaged in meditation. He is also holding instruments of peace, a religious artifact (jewelry) and his stance is not suggestive of war.
