Art Criticism

Art Criticism

Art criticism is a sequential approach for looking at and talking about art.

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Aesthetic

What is visually appealing, beautiful or acceptable.

Why critique?

It is important to talk about art because :

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• As students it helps you improve your own work
• As observers, it helps you better understand, appreciate and interpret an artist’s intentions
• Your unique personal experiences give you a different point of view and influences the way you see things.

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There are 4 steps to critiquing art:

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Description

Analysis

Interpretation

Judgement

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Description

What do you see?

*Title, Artist, Size, medium, and process

*Subject, object and details

*Objective- opinion not valid at this stage

Jose Clemente Orozco

Barricade, 1931

Oil on Canvas

140 x 114.3 cm

Analysis

How is the work organized?

*How does the artist use the Elements of art and Principles of design ?

*What stands out in the artwork?

*What is the focal point?

*How does your eye move around the artwork?

Leo Twiggs

The Blue Wall, 1969

Batik Painting

61x76.2cm

Interpretation

What is the artist trying to communicate?

*Tell the meaning or the mood of the art based on the analysis.

*Must have evidence to support your claims.

*You play a detective, you need to try to understand what the artist was thinking or feeling.

Artist statement

A short text written by the artist about his/her artwork(s) meant to explain the purpose or vision of the art.

Georgia O’Keefe

Cow’s Skull: Red, White and Blue, 1931

Oil on Canvas

101.3 x 91.1cm

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Judgement

Is the artwork successful?

*Determine the degree of artistic merit (skill)

*This is where you give your opinion about the work in two ways:

1. Is the artwork successful? Did the artist masterfully use the media? Did the artist convey the message that was intended across?

2. Personal opinion – Do you like it? Why or why not? What improvements could be made?

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