1. Art Criticism & Aesthetics
How to discuss art.

2. Objectives: Explain the purpose of art Use 4 steps of Criticism
Explain the aesthetic theories of art
Know what to look for when judging art

3. Vocabulary: Aesthetics Analysis Criteria Description Design Qualities
Expressive Qualities
Imitationalism
Interpretation
Judgment
Literal Qualities

4. Criteria: Standard of judgment
You may not always agree with someone's opinion. This happens when you judge something using different criteria.

5. Art criticism creates a system for studying a work of art
This system is the philosophy of the nature and beauty of art. It is called aesthetics.

6. 4 steps of art criticism Description Analysis Interpretation Judgment
Paul Klee. Ad Parnassum Oil on canvas. (39 x 49 in.).

7. step 1: description What do I see?... Line Shape
List the literal objects you see in the painting (skull, pitcher, bottle, flower, bowling pin, etc.) Do not make any assumptions about what you see
Consider the significant art elements that are present in the artwork and describe them.
Brook Welsh. Still life Oil on canvas.
Line
Shape
Form
Space
Texture
Color
Value

8. step 1: description Gathering Facts... What is the name of the artist?
What is the medium?
What is the name of the artwork?
When was it created?
Name some other major events in history that occurred at the same time as the artwork.
Brook Welsh. Still life Oil on canvas.

9. step 2: analysis
How are the principles of art used to organize the art elements?
Rhythm
Movement
Pattern
Balance
Proportion
Emphasis
Variety
Unity
Brook Welsh. Still life Oil on canvas.

10. step 3: interpretation
What do you think the artist is trying to say to you? Now you can make assumptions, or a best guess.
Why do you think the artist created this artwork?
What do you think it means?
What feelings do you have when looking at this artwork?
Do you think there are things in the artwork that represent other things - symbols?
Brook Welsh. Still life Oil on canvas.

11. step 4: judgment Do you like the artwork?
Do you think it is an important artwork?
Would you display it at home?
Justify your opinion! Explain your opinion using observations from the previous three steps.
Brook Welsh. Still life Oil on canvas.

12. Aesthetic Theories and Qualities of Art
Which of the following Qualities did the artist give to the artwork?
Imitationalism (Literal Quality): focuses on a realistic representation.
Formalism (Design Quality): Places emphasis on the arrangement of the elements of art using the principles of design.
Emotionalism (Expressive Qualities): Requires that an artwork must evoke a response of feelings, moods, or emotions in the viewer.

13. Now you try it...
Write a DESCRIPTION for the following slide.

14. Pablo Picasso. Guernica.1937 Oil on canvas. (11 x 23 ft.).

15. Guernica History
Spanish Dictator, Francisco Franco granted Adolf Hitler permission to practice his new war strategy of bombing cities on a small Basque village in Northern Spain.
On April 27, market day - Hitler’s air force bombed Guernica for three hours killing over 1600 people.
Picasso began making sketches for the mural one week after the bombing and completed the canvas on June 6, 1937.

16. Analysis: Which principles of design did Picasso use?
Visual Movement
Variety
Proportion
Balance
Unity
Emphasis

17. Interpretation: What was Picasso trying to say?
What is the bull a symbol of?
Why does the texture on the horse look like newspaper?
Why does all this happen in a room?
Why are there two “lights”?
Why does the warrior have a flower and a broken sword?

18. Judgment: Do you like it, or not - and why?