What does an in-depth analysis of an artwork include?

Although analysing art can seem pretty straightforward in some cases, it's very easy to limit ourselves to quite superficial observations. When examining art, it's important to also consider its position in the historical, aesthetic and critical context of the time it was created in. The first step to take is to determine the significance of its century. What were the major historical turning points of that time? Were any ideological conflicts triggered by contrasting mentalities among the social sphere? Did any relevant advances in technology shape the general artistic practice? Observe the artwork and determine if any of these key historical points are reflected in it. Next, research the art movement the work belonged to, and the key ideas it raised. How do these ideas manifest themselves in the work? Is it perhaps through the use of particular materials, its overall visual language, or in the concepts it discusses? The next step is the most important one. The critical context combines the first two into evaluating the work’s significance and role within the history of art and design. How does the work engage with the broader issues of gender, class, politics, or religion? How do critics write about the work?