Information on artist and year of origin

(image) is a painting by (artist), painted in (year). (image), painted in (year), is a work by (artist) (artist) painted (image) in (year). (image) is a famous painting by (artist).

Describing the scene

The picture was taken in (place). The photo was taken at (party). The picture shows a scene from It's an image of (place, person, scene). The picture describes (scene). The picture shows (place, person, scene) from a distance. (place, person, scene) is shown from (a bird's eye view/). You look at (place, person, scene) from (above/behind/).

What can you see?

In the picture you can see (position: on the left/right/) there is / are (position: on the left/right/) you can see is (position: on the left/right/)

Impression
gives the impression of depth. (person) seems to look at the viewer. is / er eyes seem to follow the viewer. The figures look as if they e!ist in three dimensions. The viewer has the impression that the people in the picture are alive. The viewer's attention is focused on To the alert eye it will become apparent The viewer finds it difficult to withdraw his eyes from The painting is vivid / happy / e!pressive. The picture makes the viewer feel (sad/happy) The picture inspires the viewer to think about

Intention
The artist mainly uses (colours/forms/) Important elements are highlighted. The artist / photographer / painter uses to e!press e / "he (probably) wants to criticise / e!press / show It is obvious that the artist wants to criticise / e!press / show #hat the artist / photographer / painter wants to criticise / e!press / show is #hat the artist / photographer / painter wants to point out is I think / believe / am sure that It seems / appears to me that The problem illustrated here is symbolises is typical of

How to describe and interpret pictures Pointers for Picture Discussion

$% Introduction &i% 'ive a general overview of what the picture is about &# ()( * # +T% &ii% ,This picture was probably taken at ---------. It shows --------.. /% 0escription 1 Interpretation &i% 2e organised and systematic. 3ocus on the most important part of the picture first and move around the picture. &a% ,The central focus of this picture is.. &b% ,In the foreground / middleground / background. &c% ,4n the left / right of the picture. &d% ,In the top left corner / bottom right corner of the picture, a man. &ii% 5se a wide and suitable range of vocabulary. +ge6 infant, toddler, pre7school boy/girl, young boy/girl, teenage boy/girl, young man/woman, yuppie7 looking man/lady, middle7aged man/woman, elderly man/woman 3acial e!pressions "ad6 insipid, sombre, glum, sullen, downcast 8ifeliness6 animated, beaming, wide7eyed appy smiles6 bel air, graceful, gleeful, smiling like a 9heshire cat "hy smiles6 coy, demure, pinched 8aughter6 hearty, bubbly, hilarious, convulsing with glee 2riefly describe the clothes and hairstyle of the characters &iii% Interpretation of :eople #hat do the facial e!pression and body language of a character tell you about6 a. how he is feeling or thinking; b. what he intends to do; c. his relationship with the others in the picture; &iv% Interpretation of :lace and 4b<ects #hat kind of place is this; #hy are the people there; #hat do the ob<ects tell you about a. what had happened earlier; b. what is happening now; c. what will happen later; d. the weather and the time of the day; &v% Interpretation = "ome useful structures ,3rom her facial e!pression, I can assume that. ,3rom the wrappers on the floor, I can tell that. ,I believe. ,:erhaps this man is about to.