“Laila and Majnun at School”: Formal Analysis Essay (Critical Writing)

This paper provides a formal analysis of “Laila and Majnun at School.” The examination begins with the identification of the artwork and its physical condition. Second, the paper provides the formal analysis of “Laila and Majnun at School” without the value of judgment in order to enable the reader to understand the object of the inquiry. Third, the major features of the artwork that served the artist to convey specific ideas are discussed. Fourth, the paper provides the contextual analysis of the “Laila and Majnun at School” by examining the social, cultural, political, and religious frameworks in which the artwork was produced. The historical significance of the artwork in the contemporary world will also be discussed.

Identification

1. The title of the work is “Laila and Majnun at School.”
2. The artist is Nizami.
3. The work was created in A.D. 1431–32.
4. The work was created in present-day Afghanistan, Herat.
5. Now, the work is located in The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Condition

Despite the paper’s yellowing, the work is in good condition and retains the brightness of the original colors.

Description

1. The painting is presented in the form of an illustration in a poetry book.
2. The painting is created using ink, gold, and watercolor on paper.
3. The painting was drawn with the use of a pen and brush.
4. The painting’s measures are similar in size to a book page.
5. The painting uses cube forms to depict a scene happening inside the building.
6. The painting has a vertical axis.
7. The painting uses very thin lines.
8. The shapes in the painting are maintained in proportion to each other.
9. The painting uses a bright color scheme with gold elements
10. The painting preserves the texture of the paper.

Analysis

The painting features a scene from the story written by Nizami. The scene uses religious symbolism in placing the main characters in the niche of the mosque prayer.

The distinctive characteristics of the painting include the size of the building and intricate tiling designs.

The painting uses a flat vertical composition with increased use of bright geometric forms for tiling and several figures of people combined harmoniously.

The principles of the composition emphasize the romanticism of the main characters’ first meeting in capturing a seemingly ordinary scene with the presence of other people

The use of bright colors emphasizes that the painting reflects the perception of two main characters at an early age.

The use of space in the painting reflects scale and architectural beauty of the characters’ environment.

To depict the movement of one of the characters, the painting depicts a diagonally laid door and white background behind the doorway.

The gold medium emphasizes the luxurious architecture, while the white accentuates the center of the composition.

The artist successfully projected the subject matter in depicting a scene from the perception of two main characters. For example, people’s faces in the distant corner opposite to main characters lack details.