formanalys
Formanalys, or Formanalyse in German, is the systematic examination of the form of an object, artwork, architecture, or other medium. It concentrates on the visual and structural qualities that organize perception—such as shape, proportion, rhythm, texture, pattern, and material—rather than subject matter, function, or historical context. The goal is to describe how form contributes to meaning or effect through composition and arrangement.
In practice, form analysis is used across disciplines. In visual arts and design, it surveys composition, balance,
The typical workflow involves selecting a work or object, isolating its formal elements, and creating a formal
Historically, form analysis has been associated with formalist approaches in art criticism and pedagogy, which prioritize