This photograph by Gyula Halasz, known as Brassai, depicts an intimate moment between a couple in a café in Paris in 1932. The woman embraces her partner lovingly but their reflection in the mirror behind them seems to show her with a more forced expression. The photograph explores the juxtaposition between public and private emotions and how social expectations can influence behavior. Brassai was known for documenting intimate scenes of urban life in Paris.

1. Structure your writing using the
following 3 headings:
FORM (What) - ‘Mise en Scene
(Setting in Scene)’
What is going on in the art
work/photograph? Explain objectively and
honestly.
PROCESS (How)
What has the artist used to make the art
work? Consider the materials and media. If
a photograph, what are the lighting
considerations? Has it been presented in a
special way/ what is it printed on?
CONTENT (Why)
Having researched further and understood
the wider context, discuss the ideas
behind the art work and the intentions of
the photographer to your best ability.
Consider the mood of the work and why
this has been achieved?
Analysing
an Image
CONTEXT
Understanding the wider context and
underlying themes gleaned from research and
used to inform your opinion
RESEARCH
Research using a variety of secondary
sources and collecting comments, quotes
and discussion points
QUESTIONING
Start with writing down key words
and simple questions to get initial
primary response and raise further
areas for research
What? The Artwork
Who? Subject Matter
Where? Location
When? Time/Period
How? Process
Why? Meaning
Books
Periodicals
Magazines
Newspapers
Galleries
Museums
Internet
TV/DVD
Radio
Biographical
information
about the
artist
Political
events of the
time I.e.
wars,
suffragettes
Social &
Cultural
Norms I.e.
fashion
movements,
Ideologies I.e.
Far Right or
Liberal
Technology I.e.
inventions and
means of
communication
Art
Movements
I.e.Bauhaus,
Futurism
Quotes & key
points by
specialists and
academics
Consider
past work
and
common
trends in
career
How does the
work fit in to
the history of
Art &
Photography?
Compare other
artists and work
from the time
Imagine you are trying to
explain the art work to
someone over the telephone
and transcribe that message.
Imagine you are recreating this
EXACT image. What would
you have to consider to
achieve this?

2. Student example 1
It is evident that over time photography has changed and developed. Not only the way a picture is
produced, but the colour of the picture and the way the subjects in the pictures are placed have
changed.
In this particular instance, the models in both pictures are placed quite similarly, they are both in a small,
tidy group. However, this isn't the case with most pictures. Nowadays people don't seem to be bothered
with the different heights or stances of the models so pictures might be very "slap-dash". In times like
the 20s, family photos would have reflected things like the family's reputation, so having the perfect
picture was extremely important.
While the positioning of the models and their expressions are too different in these particular pictures,
the quality of the print is. The more recent picture, on the left, is a picture taken on a digital camera and
has been printed off onto paper. This isn't as good quality as the older picture, on the right, which was
taken on an old polaroid camera. Another difference the pictures have is the colours they use. The more
modern photo is taken in colour and printed with colour too, but the older picture is printed in black and
white. This is because at the time it was taken in 1970, taking pictures in colour hadn't been developed
yet.

3. Student example 2
Above is a photo of my dad with his best friends from school around 1977. This photo was taken using an analogue camera, SLR
that was developed before print in black and white which, though colour photography was present at the time, makes the photo
seem very old and vintage looking. Another factor that adds to the aged look of the photo is the quality. The grainy look is
something instantly recognisable as a trait of "vintage" photography and is completely the opposite of the photo of me and my
sisters that follows the HD look that modern photography favours.
The large megapixels and powerful sensors of popular cameras such as DSLRs and also the small but mighty cameras found on
phones means that high quality clear photos are extremely accessible technology today, unlike the limited quality in the 70s.
SLRs that were used had very limited metering and settings so it was harder to adapt to suit the scene, also there was no digital
preview of the shot and underexposed parts of the photo aren't corrected.
The positions of the subjects of the old photo are all face on with the two outer boys' bodies angled outwards slightly. It’s a
medium shot, framed from the knees up however this emphasises the height difference between the 3 boys in the photo as the
tallest one's head reaches the very top of the frame and you can see how much space is above my dad's head compared to this,
which gives it a comical element.
The poses of the 3 boys give the impression that they are trying to appear cool and trendy, as they each have their hands in their
pockets which make them look nonchalant and very casual, in addition to the half smiling and straight face expression. This is
different to the modern picture which is quite close up and shows all 3 of us smiling broadly which illustrates happiness and shows
us having fun in a more candid way, as opposed to the purposeful posing and positioning of the boys which could be because
there was a limited amount of exposures or film to be spent on a picture instead of an endless burst of digital photos.
In the more recent image, the style of picture is a "selfie" which explains the positioning of the subjects- very close together and
looking upwards instead of face on, since the camera is facing towards instead of away and held up and pointing down at the
subjects from the arm of my sister on the far right which is also why the position isn't completely centred in the frame. The
patterned clothing in the modern photo adds to the bright vibrant colouring of the digital, and the background is light and sunny in
contrast to the shadowy forest appearance in the old photo. Despite there being dark underexposed areas in the background, it
makes the light 70s outfits which feature high-waisted jeans and lots of denim and t-shirts stand out because of the contrasting
darkness behind.

4. Student example 3
The biggest difference between both photos is the way in which each was taken. For example, the first photo has
clearly been taken professionally which is evident because of the use of the back drop and the attention paid to
lighting. Whereas in the second photo it has been taken using a camera phone which is clear to the "cramming in"
of subjects and the lack of attention to detail. Also the subjects eyes are not looking toward the camera but rather
the screen of the phone so they can see their expression.
In both images the positioning of the models isn't based on gender but more on size, with the largest people being
placed at the back. The clothes worn by the models aren't that different compared to that of the clothes worn by
the models in the second photo. This suggests that the two photos weren't taken too far apart. Once again in both
photos all the models are smiling which suggests that the camera used was a modern one which meant the
models didn't have to stay in the same position for too long.
After asking the owner of the photos i have learned that for her the photo on the right is more precious to her. This
is because she felt that a memory was attached to the photo and that it was rather evident that in the photo the
subjects are enjoying themselves and having fun. When she looks at the photo a smile is brought to her face as
she remembers the joy she felt when the photo was taken unlike the photo on the right which seems as though it
has no identity.

7. TITLE: Le Couple d'amoureux au bal des
quatre saisons, rue de Lappe
DATE: 1932
ARTIST: Gyula Halasz aka Brassai (1899-1984)
CONTENT
Having researched further and understood the wider context, discuss the ideas behind the art work and the intentions of the photographer to your best ability. Consider the mood of the
work and how this has been achieved?
FORM / visual content
This is the ‘Mise en Scene (Setting in Scene)’ :- describe what
is going on in the art work/photograph? Explain objectively and
honestly. Imagine you are trying to explain the art work to
someone over the telephone: transcribe that message.
PROCESS
What has the artist used to make the art work? Consider the
materials and media. If a photograph, what are the lighting
considerations? Has it been presented in a special way I.e. as
an installation, size of print?
‘Analysing an Image’ Writing Frame
KEYWORDS
Write down any key words you associate with this art
work.
Brassai was someone considered to have “mythologised Paris as a romantic capital, capturing couples,
bar fights, music halls and brothels.” Looking at his work it is clear that he was interested in the lives and
behavior of people in a large metropolitan city, choosing to document it as an intimate city, although not
afraid to show it’s rough edges. This particular image cleverly manages to convey two points of view,
where the lady is smiling contently and lovingly in front of the camera as she hugs her lover, but the
mirror shows another, more sinister side, where she appears to be grimacing and ‘keeping up
appearances’. It raises questions about how our public and private emotions are constantly challenged
by the expectations of society. In this case, the glamour and fashion of the 1930s implied a culture of
sophistication that influenced many women of the day.
This is a black & white photograph by
Brassai, an influencial French photographer
who worked during the early 20th
Century
(1899-1984). This particular image of his
depicts a lady and her lover/partner
socialising in a café and chatting over a drink
of wine. She appears animated and holding
his chest in a very intimate manner, whilst he
looks into her eyes and embraces her. The
picture was taken indoors and there is a
mirror behind them, showing the reflection of
the backs of their heads and an alternative
angle of her face. There are several lines
which draw your eye into the picture, one
along the edge of the table leading you to
the figures, and one in the top right corner
which leads your eye to the couple’s
reflection.
The picture is taken from standing height
and is angled slightly so that we are
looking down at the couple. This allows
us to see their reflection in the mirror
and have an overview of the scene. The
scene may have involved the use of
flash as their skin, white clothes and
glasses are harshly illuminated and
appear flat. The existing light is most
probably artificial and low in strength
with some natural light from nearby
windows. There is little distortion on the
face, so he has probably used a
standard 50-100 mm lens. The image is
cropped very tightly to the figures, so
that their bodies and reflection fills the
frame, blocking out any information of
the scene around them.
Reflection
Intimacy
Social
Illusion
Deception
FLUENT EXAMPLE

8. TITLE: Le Couple d'amoureux au bal des
quatre saisons, rue de Lappe
DATE: 1932
ARTIST: Gyula Halasz aka Brassai (1899-1984)
CONTENT
Having researched further and understood the wider context, discuss the ideas behind the art work and the intentions of
the photographer to your best ability. Consider the mood of the work and how this has been achieved?
FORM (What)
This is the ‘Mise en Scene (Setting in Scene)’ :- describe what is
going on in the art work/photograph? Explain objectively and honestly.
Imagine you are trying to explain the art work to someone over the
telephone and transcribe that message.
PROCESS
What has the artist used to make the art work? Consider
the materials and media. If a photograph, what are the
lighting considerations? Has it been presented in a
special way I.e. as an installation?
‘Analysing an Image’ Writing Frame
KEYWORDS
Write down any key words you associate with this art
work.
I think the work is about a French man and woman who love each other. I find it an really interesting
picture and like the composition. They appear to be drinking wine and he is clutching her elbow, whilst
she touches his chest. This shows that they really like each other. I would like to be able to take
photos that are also of people - I could photograph my friends in a local café drinking tea.
This is a photograph of a man and
woman sitting in a café drinking wine.
You can see their reflection in the
mirror and they are holding each
other in an intimate way.
I can only see the woman’s face, not
the man’s and they are both wearing
old-fashioned clothes.
The photographer has used
black and white film and
printed it in the darkroom.
There is lots of light on their
faces and it makes me think it
is overexposed.
Man
Woman
Wine
Mirror
Hat
BASIC EXAMPLE

9. TITLE:
DATE:
ARTIST:
CONTENT
Having researched further and understood the wider context, discuss the ideas behind the art work and the intentions of the photographer to your best ability. Consider the mood of the
work and how this has been achieved?
FORM (What)
This is the ‘Mise en Scene (Setting in Scene)’ :- describe what is going on in the art
work/photograph? Explain objectively and honestly. Imagine you are trying to explain the art
work to someone over the telephone and transcribe that message.
PROCESS
What has the artist used to make the art work? Consider the materials and
media. If a photograph, what are the lighting considerations? Has it been
presented in a special way I.e. as an installation?
‘Analysing an Image’
Writing Frame
KEYWORDS
Write down any key words you associate with this art
work.
BASIC EXAMPLE

10. TITLE:
DATE:
ARTIST:
CONTENT
Having researched further and understood the wider context, discuss the ideas behind the art work and the intentions of the photographer to your best ability. Consider the mood of the
work and how this has been achieved?
FORM (What)
This is the ‘Mise en Scene (Setting in Scene)’ :- describe what is going on in the art
work/photograph? Explain objectively and honestly. Imagine you are trying to explain the art
work to someone over the telephone and transcribe that message.
PROCESS
What has the artist used to make the art work? Consider the materials and
media. If a photograph, what are the lighting considerations? Has it been
presented in a special way I.e. as an installation?
‘Analysing an Image’
Writing Frame
KEYWORDS
Write down any key words you associate with this art
work.
BASIC EXAMPLE