How do you analyse artists and sources to show contextual and critical understanding?
Analysing sources and artists means examining how and why artworks are made, using contextual and other sources critically to inform a personal direction, which is the contextual understanding at the heart of AO1.
How to analyse artists and sources in WJEC Art and Design: examining how and why artworks are made and using contextual and other sources critically to inform a personal direction, the contextual and critical understanding at the heart of AO1, with a method for analysing an artwork.
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What this dot point is asking
Analysing sources and artists is the contextual and critical understanding at the heart of AO1. It means examining how and why artworks are made and using sources critically to inform your own direction. This dot point sets out a method for analysing an artwork and how to make that analysis feed your work, so your research earns marks rather than decorating pages.
What analysing sources means
Analysing sources is the thinking part of the course: interrogating the artists, designers, movements and images you study, and using them to drive your own ideas. Contextual sources are artworks, artists, movements and ideas; other sources include places, objects and primary observation. Analysis means going beyond what a source shows to how and why it works, and what you can take from it.
A method for analysing an artwork
Analyse on several connected levels, judging at each.
- Formal. How are the formal elements (line, tone, colour, texture, form) and composition used? With what effect?
- Media and process. How is the work made? What does the technique contribute?
- Meaning. What does the work express or communicate? What is the artist's intention?
- Context. When, where and why was it made? What movement, ideas or circumstances surround it?
At each level, evaluate (why a choice works, what it achieves), and then connect the insight to your own direction.
Connecting analysis to your work
The single most important thing about analysis is connection. AO1 rewards investigation that informs the candidate's own work, so every source you analyse should shape a decision in your developing project: a technique you adopt, a composition you adapt, an idea you respond to. Analysis with no connection to your practice is research for show.
Try this
Q1. State what analysing sources and artists involves and the difference between describing and analysing. [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Examining how and why artworks are made and using sources critically to inform a personal direction (the contextual and critical understanding at the heart of AO1); describing states content or biography, while analysing examines the use of the formal elements, media, process, meaning and context, and judges it.
Q2. Explain a method for analysing an artwork and how it feeds a candidate's work. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Analyse on several levels, formal (formal elements and composition), media and process, meaning, and context, evaluating at each rather than describing; then connect the insight to your own direction, so an identified technique, composition or idea informs a decision in your developing project, which is what AO1 rewards and what the extended written element of Unit 2 shows at length.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC specification6 marksState what analysing sources and artists involves, and the difference between describing and analysing an artwork.Show worked answer →
A recall and understanding task. Award marks for the description and the distinction.
Analysing sources and artists involves examining how and why artworks are made, using contextual and other sources critically to inform the candidate's own direction. It is the contextual and critical understanding at the heart of AO1.
Describing versus analysing. Describing states what is in an artwork (a list of its contents or the artist's biography). Analysing examines how the work is made (its use of the formal elements, media, process and composition) and why (its meaning, intention and context), and judges it.
A strong answer notes that analysis should connect to the candidate's own work, every source analysed should inform a decision in their developing project, so the contextual understanding drives the practical work rather than sitting apart from it.
WJEC analysis8 marksExplain a method for analysing an artwork that shows critical and contextual understanding, and how it feeds a candidate's work.Show worked answer →
An explanation task rewarding a structured analytical approach.
A method. Examine the artwork on several levels: the formal (how the formal elements and composition are used), the media and process (how it is made), the meaning (what it expresses or communicates), and the context (when, where and why it was made, and the ideas around it). Judge each, do not just describe.
Showing critical and contextual understanding. Critical understanding means evaluating, not just reporting: why a choice works, what it achieves. Contextual understanding means placing the work in its time, movement and ideas. Together they show the candidate understands the work deeply.
How it feeds the candidate's work. The analysis should connect to the candidate's own direction: an identified technique, composition or idea informs a decision in their developing project. A top answer stresses this connection, AO1 rewards investigation that shapes the candidate's own ideas, and notes that the extended written element of Unit 2 is where such analysis is shown at length.
Related dot points
- Recording and observational skills mean capturing ideas, observations and insights first-hand in visual and other forms relevant to intentions, reflecting on them, which is the practical heart of AO3.
The recording and observational skills assessed in WJEC Art and Design: capturing ideas, observations and insights first-hand in visual and other forms relevant to intentions and reflecting on them, the practical heart of AO3, with guidance on recording from direct observation.
- The extended written element of the Personal Investigation is a piece of continuous critical prose, between 1000 and 3000 words, exploring the contextual sources behind the practical work and integrated with it.
What the extended written element of the WJEC Personal Investigation requires: continuous critical prose of between 1000 and 3000 words exploring the contextual sources behind the practical work, integrated with it, illustrated and referenced, with guidance on writing a strong personal study.
- AO1 requires developing ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
What AO1 of WJEC A-Level Art and Design requires: developing ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding, and how to evidence it across the units.
- AO4 requires presenting a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language, drawing together the investigation, experimentation and recording.
What AO4 of WJEC A-Level Art and Design requires: presenting a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language, drawing together the investigation, experimentation and recording, with guidance on how to evidence it.
- A2 Unit 2 Personal Investigation is a sustained, candidate-led practical project on a self-chosen theme worth 36 percent and 160 marks, including an extended written element of 1000 to 3000 words, assessed against all four objectives.
What the WJEC A2 Unit 2 Personal Investigation requires: a sustained, candidate-led practical project on a self-chosen theme worth 36 percent and 160 marks, including an extended written element of 1000 to 3000 words of continuous prose, assessed against all four equally weighted objectives.
- Each unit is marked against the four equally weighted assessment objectives using mark bands, internally assessed by the centre and externally moderated by WJEC, with weighted unit marks combining into the A* to E grade.
How marking works in WJEC A-Level Art and Design: each unit is judged against the four equally weighted objectives using mark bands, internally assessed by the centre and externally moderated by WJEC, with the weighted unit marks combining into the overall A* to E grade.
Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCE AS/A Level Art and Design specification (from 2015) — WJEC (2015)
- GCE AS and A level subject content for art and design — Welsh Government / Ofqual (2015)