Art Criticism How to write about art

What is Art Criticism? The process of gathering facts and information from artworks in order to make intelligent judgments about them. Art Critic: A person whose job is to study, understand, and judge works of art.

Art Criticism helps… Analyze and understand the artworks of others. Analyze your own artworks to determine how to improve them. Gain a better understanding and appreciation for all types and styles of art.

4 Steps in Art Criticism Describing Analyzing Interpreting Judging

Describing Making a careful list of all the things you see in the work. Identify: What people and objects you see and what is happening The elements of art used. The size of the work, the medium, and the process used.

Subject, Objects, and Details What is the subject? What objects do you see in the work? How are the people interacting with each other? With the objects?

Elements of Art What colors are in the painting? Which hue predominates? Is it bright or dull? It is light or dark?

Size and Medium Georges Seurat French, 1859-1891 A Sunday on La Grande Jatte -- 1884, 1884–86 Oil on canvas 81 3/4 x 121 1/4 in. (207.5 x 308.1 cm) Inscribed at lower right: Seurat Size and Medium What size is the work? What medium was used?

Describing Non-Objective Artwork Robert Motherwell Elegy to the Spanish Republic #132, 1975-85 Acrylic paint on canvas 2440 x 3050 mm Describing Non-Objective Artwork The Elements of Art become the subject matter. What colors has Motherwell used? Describe the lines, textures, shapes.

Analyzing Noting how the art principles are used to organize the Elements of Art The critic looks at an artwork in terms of its composition. “How are the parts of this work arranged?” Principles: Balance, Unity, Variety, Emphasis, Movement, Rhythm, Proportion, Harmony, Pattern

Analyze this work Alice Neel The Family (John Gruen, Jane Wilson, and Julia) 1970 60 ¼ x 58 inches Private Collection, on loan to Tate Modern, London

Analyzing Non-Objective Art Richard Diebenkorn Ocean Park #43 Oil and charcoal on canvas Analyzing Non-Objective Art Which shape in this painting first caught your eye? What is the color of that shape? What principle(s) of art led your eye to this portion of the painting?

Interpreting Determining and explaining the meaning, mood, or idea of the work of art. Your interpretation should be based upon the facts and clues collected during the first two steps. Your interpretation can express your feelings, but must be backed up by observation.

Interpreting “What do I believe is happening?” “What idea, mood, or feeling does this artwork suggest?”

Interpreting Ernst Kirchner Seated Girl 1910 Oil on canvas 31 3/4 x 35 7/8 in. Interpreting “What do I believe is happening?” “What idea, mood, or feeling does this artwork suggest?”

Interpreting Lee Krasner Gaea 1966 Oil on canvas 69" x 10' 5 1/2" “What do I believe is happening?” “What idea, mood, or feeling does this artwork suggest?”

Judging Making a decision about a work’s success and giving reasons to support that decision. Two Levels of Judgment: Personal (Do you like the work?) Aesthetic views by the critic (You decide if the work is successful according to generally acceptable aesthetic views.)

Aesthetics The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and value of art. Aesthetic view: An idea or school of thought on what is most important in works of art. 3 Types of Aesthetic Views: Subject Composition Content

View #1: Subject Art is considered successful if it imitates what we see in the real world. Supporters place the most weight on if the artwork looks lifelike or not.

View #2: Composition What counts most in art is composition. The focus is on an artwork’s formal properties (Elements of Art and Principles of Design). It is important to note that some artists pay more attention to composition than any other feature.

View #3: Content Maintains that what is most important in an artwork is the content. In this view, a successful artwork is one with a clear message or feeling.

Aesthetics and the Art Critic Most critics use more than one aesthetic view to judge a work of art. It is important to have an open mind when critiquing art. Evaluating a work in terms of multiple standards will enhance your understanding and appreciation of it.

Aesthetics Frieda Kahlo Roots 1943 Oil on metal 12 x 19 ½ in. Does the subject imitate what we see in real life? How has the artist used the Elements and Principles in her composition? What message is Kahlo trying to convey to the viewer?

DESCRIBE ANALYZE INTERPRET JUDGE Title: Christina’s World Artist: Andrew Wyeth Date: 1978-79 INTERPRET JUDGE