Ilya Repins 'Painting They Did Not Expect Him'

A formal analysis is defined as an analysis of the form that the artist has produced. One is studying the art elements such as line, shape, color, texture, mass and composition; not the story. These elements make up the expression, content and meaning of the piece of work chosen. In this particular chosen piece of artwork, Ilya Repins' painting, They Did Not Expect Him, depicting a story about the return of an exiled convict, there are numerous artistic elements and clues in the artists chosen form which convey meaning to the reader.
Right off the bat, the first object that grabs my eye seems to be the man walking into the room. All other elements seem to have been formed around this very man entering the room. The man is the central perspective