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 ID: 526457
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Art Criticism" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Art Criticism
How to write about artSlide2
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.Slide3
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.Slide4
4 Steps in Art Criticism
Describing
Analyzing
Interpreting
JudgingSlide5
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.Slide6
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?Slide7
Elements of Art
What colors are in the painting?
Which hue predominates?
Is it bright or dull?
It is light or dark?Slide8
Size and Medium
What size is the work?
What medium was used?
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:
SeuratSlide9
Describing Non-Objective Artwork
The Elements of Art become the subject matter.
What colors has
Motherwell
used?
Describe the lines, textures, shapes.
Robert
Motherwell
Elegy to the Spanish Republic #132,
1975-85
Acrylic paint on canvas
2440 x 3050 mmSlide10
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, PatternSlide11
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, LondonSlide12
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?
Richard
Diebenkorn
Ocean Park #43
Oil and charcoal on canvasSlide13
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.Slide14
Interpreting
“What do I believe is happening?”
“What idea, mood, or feeling does this artwork suggest?”Slide15
Interpreting
“What do I believe is happening?”
“What idea, mood, or feeling does this artwork suggest?”
Ernst Kirchner
Seated Girl
1910
Oil on canvas
31 3/4 x 35 7/8 in. Slide16
Interpreting
“What do I believe is happening?”
“What idea, mood, or feeling does this artwork suggest?”
Lee Krasner
Gaea
1966
Oil on canvas
69" x 10' 5 1/2"Slide17
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.)Slide18
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
ContentSlide19
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.Slide20
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.Slide21
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.Slide22
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.Slide23
Aesthetics
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?
Frieda Kahlo
Roots
1943
Oil on metal
12 x 19 ½ in.Slide24
INTERPRET
ANALYZE
DESCRIBE
JUDGE
Title:
Christina’s World
Artist:
Andrew Wyeth
Date:
1978-79