Formal analysis of an artwork.

 A formal analysis is a visual analysis of the significant formal elements and principles of design of an artwork. These elements give the work its expression, message, or meaning. A formal analysis assumes a work of art is (1) a constructed object (2) that has been created with a stable meaning (even though it might not be clear to the viewer) (3) that can be ascertained by studying the relationships between the elements of the work.