Confused about section B (art exam)

[Rosie]

sorry but what do you mean by that 'visually analyse'?

[Aurelie.]

The visual analysis of the work is basically the formal interpretation of it.
Usually, you'd include:
 - [artist, title, date, size] this one isnt really necessary)
 - subject matter
 - composition (i.e. positions of images, characteristics of the image, etc)
 - principles of design **
 - elements of design **
 - technique

and link it all to the atmosphere / personal interpretation of the work, if you have time.

[cathtacular]

in a visual analysis you globally talk about the artwork as a whole, what you see in front of you right there (what all those elemenets and principals come together to produce, for example artwork a is a depiction of a mother and daughter sharing a moment of reflection together) then you go on to talk about the elements and principals and how they work together to convey messages to the view, for instance why would we think the mother and daughter are bonding? you might say the encircling nature of the mothers arms around her daughter suggest they are sharing an intimate connection, this is also shown through the soft pale color palette suggesting peace and harmony of the two. and you go on... haha that's basically all there is to it!!