A visual analysis essay is an essay in which the writer interprets a piece of artwork through a close visual analysis. The job of the writer is to determine their interpretation and prove to the audience that their interpretation makes sense. The writer of the essay must also focus on pointing out specific elements to prove their interpretation. This essay is focused on a specific piece of art created by Banksy, whose artwork is purely interpretation based upon specific elements. Banksy is a street artist who uses graffiti and stencils to showcase his opinions society and modern political issues for the most part, but this specific work does not point out the flaws in society but a deeper meaning. Banksy's identity still remains unknown; therefore it is hard to determine when he or she creates his or her next work. Because Banksy can not be in person to give his or her interpretation of their own artwork, Banksy leaves it up to the community to decide its meaning. The specific piece of work by Banksy that has multiple interpretations is Balloon Girl. Banksy's artwork Balloon Girl has multiple interpretations that can be determined through the element of spacing, contrast and symbolism. 

Through the spacing in Banksy's painting Balloon Girl, the first thing to notice is a red heart shaped balloon. There is a young girl who is reaching out towards this balloon. The fact that the girl is reaching out towards the balloon, but can not quite seem to catch it, indicates that she has lost something dear and close to her. The young girl does not seem to be running after the balloon which means she already knows that no matter what the balloon is destined to leave whether she wants it to or not, and so all she can do is reach out towards the balloon and so desperately hope that it magically flies back into her arms. The next noticeable placement is the spacing of the girl and the balloon close to a power socket, which then brings the reader back into the real world. This could mean that the reader can take a minute to reflect this certain observation into his or her own life. Everyone whether they admit it or not has lost something or someone close to them. The best everyone can do when they lose something or someone close to them is hope that everything will go back to normal and be okay in the end. The next part of this piece to be interpreted is the words, "THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE." This sentence is written off to the side to help the reader realize that in a situation of distress no matter what the hope of a better future alone can make things better in the end is what drives a human being to become successful. At the end of anyone's life he or she would always want to look back on their life and realize that the hope they held onto made the best possible change for himself or herself. 

The contrast and color in this particular piece is a gray scale, black and white, and red. The wall around the artwork was a different color, but painted white so that the artwork can stand out. The scenery around the art is a gray scale. The gray scale is any shade of the color gray. This indicates that the world this young girl lives in is colored by her emotions or she is feeling these emotions because her world is this color. The white and gray present a melancholy and depressing mood as she is loosing something the loves. The young girl herself is painted black and white so that she stands out in the artwork. She could also be black and white so that her identity cannot be identified, and the reader can then see themselves in her and her situation. The red heart shaped balloon is red due to the fact this balloon stands for something this little girl loves. 

Banksy's artwork Balloon Girl can be interpreted through spacing and contrast, but the most important way that Banksy creates his or her artwork is through the symbolism of certain points in the piece. The focal point in this piece happens to be the red heart shaped balloon. The red heart shaped balloon is such a brighter more vibrant and bold color than the rest of the arts setting that it is the first place the eye is drawn to when studying this piece of art. Once they eye of the interpreter has caught the attention of the red balloon the eye is drawn to the girl, then the power socket, then finally to the sentence " THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE." The specific line work, shapes and colors in art are manipulated so that the eye of the reader can follow these certain elements around the artwork in the way the creator meant for the reader to. The placement of this piece happens to draw the reader's attention from the left side to the right side. Upon reading the words "THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE." The reader can determine that because this sentence does not outright descried the piece it must be interpreted as well. The only general meaning behind the balloon is that because the balloon is red and in the shape of a heart the balloon is a symbol of something or someone the girl loves. The symbolism behind "THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE." Is hidden with the capitalization. The whole sentence is capitalized because it wants to be read. Without the capitalization, the sentence could then be overlooked. Through this the reader can then come to the conclusion that whatever the girl is losing there will always be hope that the girl could retrieve what has been lost or heal the hole in her heart that this item or person took when he, she or it was gone. 

Through this visual analysis essay Banksy who is an unknown street artist has remained a leader in modern graffiti. Banksy has proven to be one of the most notable artists of the modern era due to his or her boldness to depict artwork with such deep and honest meaning to artwork that points out flaws in society and even protesting against certain issues with the government.  Banksy's artwork Balloon Girl has many interpretations, but through the usage of space, symbolism, and contrast the interpretation of this piece can be slimmed down to the losing of a loved item. 

