LOOKING GUIDE
Look at a painting for five minutes
A short exercise turns a first impression into something you can explain.
Minute one: the whole picture
Stand far enough back to see the full work comfortably. Describe its largest areas before identifying the subject. Where is the lightest part? Which colour takes up the most space? Notice whether your attention moves in a loop, across a diagonal or towards one point.
Minute two: the surface
Move closer while respecting the gallery’s boundaries. Look at marks, layers and edges. Some areas may show the material beneath; others may be smooth or thick. Describe what is actually visible rather than assuming how it was made. Ask the gallery if the process matters to your reading.
Minute three: the structure
Look for repeated lines, shapes or colours. Ask how the picture would change if one detail were removed. This is a thought experiment, not a request to handle the work. A quiet margin can be as important as a figure in the centre.
Minute four: the label
Read the artist, title, date and medium. Separate the date of the artwork from the exhibition date. A title may direct attention, introduce a story or deliberately leave it open. Compare this context with what you noticed before reading it.
Minute five: one supported interpretation
Complete this sentence: “I read the work as ___ because I can see ___.” For example, a room might feel unsettled because its doorway is tilted and its darkest area is near the edge. You have connected an interpretation with evidence. Another visitor may notice something different.
Keep a compact note
Record the artist, title, venue and one visual observation. If photography is permitted, include a label in a separate image for reference, without photographing visitors unnecessarily. Your note should still make sense when you no longer have the artwork in front of you.
From the whole painting to one mark
- 01Step back
Notice the arrangement and where your eye goes first.
- 02Move closer
Without touching, inspect edges, marks and surface changes.
- 03Compare
Read the label, then check what its context changes for you.