A critical analysis of Hippopotamus (“William”), ca. 1961-1878 BCE, faience, Metropolitan Museum of Art,
New York https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/544227?
searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&deptids=10&ft=william&offset=0&rpp=20&pos=1
Your essay should now address issues such as the object’s function, original context, and symbolism.
Research what the symbolic aspects of your object are and how contemporary viewers would have
understood and interacted with the object in question. Conclude the paper with a self-reflection
component that explores the pros and cons of a formal analysis versus a research paper.
The purpose of this essay is to introduce analytic approaches to the study of art and show the strengths
and weaknesses of a formal analysis. For this assignment, please consult at least two additional scholarly
books or articles and cite them accordingly. Do not cite random websites. Instead consult search engines
such as Google Books, Google Scholar, JSTOR, Oxford Art Online, or Academia.edu.