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Basic Arts Criticism

The document outlines the four steps of art criticism: description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment. It provides questions to guide analyzing an artwork at each step, from objective description of visual elements to interpreting the artist's intent and making a personal evaluation. The goal is to thoughtfully observe, understand technical and conceptual aspects, and form a reasoned critical opinion of the work.

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58 views10 pages

Basic Arts Criticism

The document outlines the four steps of art criticism: description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment. It provides questions to guide analyzing an artwork at each step, from objective description of visual elements to interpreting the artist's intent and making a personal evaluation. The goal is to thoughtfully observe, understand technical and conceptual aspects, and form a reasoned critical opinion of the work.

Uploaded by

ainevill83
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Basic Art Criticism

• Four Steps in Art Criticism (Janice Mason Art Museum)


1. Description
2. Analysis
3. Interpretation
4. Judgement
Describe
1. What is the name of the artist who created the artwork?
2. What kind of artwork is it?
3. What is the name of the artwork?
4. When was the artwork created?
5. Name some other major events in history that occurred at the same
time artwork was created?
6. List the literal objects in the painting (trees, people, animals etc.)
7. What do you notice first when you look at the work(s)? Why?
8. What kinds of colors do you see? How would you describe them?
9. What shapes can we see? What kind of edges do the shapes have?
10. Are there lines in the work(s)? If so, what kinds of lines are they?
11. What sort of textures do you see? How would you describe them/
12. What time of day/night is it? How can we tell?
13. What is the overall visual effect or mood of the work(s)?
Analyze
Analyze: Mentally separate the parts or elements, thinking in terms of
textures, shapes/forms, light/dark or bright/dull colors, types of lines,
and sensory qualities. In this step consider the most significant art
principles that were used in the artwork. Describe how the artist used
them to organize the elements. Suggested questions to help with
analysis:
1. How has the artist used colors in the work(s)?
2. What sort of effect do the colors have on the artwork?
3. How as the artist used shapes within the work of art?
4. How have lines been used in the work(s)? Has the artist used them as an
important or dominant part of the work, or do they play a different roll?
5. What role does texture play in the work(s)? Has the artist used the illusion of
texture or has the artist used actual texture? How has texture been used within
the work(s).
6. How has the artist used light in the work(s)? Is there the illusion of a scene
with lights and shadows, or does the artist use light and dark values in a more
abstracted way?
7. How has the overall visual effect or mood of the work(s)? been
achieved by the use of elements of art and principles of design.
8. How were the artists design tools used to achieve a particular look or
focus?
Interpretation
An interpretation seeks to explain the meaning of the work based on what you have
learned so far about the artwork, what do you think the artist was trying to say?
1. What was the artist’s statement in this work?
2. What do you think it means?
3. What does it mean to you?
4. How does this relate to you and your life?
5. What feelings do you have when looking at this artwork?
6. Do you think there are things in the artwork that represent other things-symbols?
7. Why do you think that the artist chose to work in this manner and made these
kinds of artistic decisions? 8. Why did the artist create this artwork?
Judgment
• After careful observation, analysis, and interpretation of an artwork, you are
ready to make your own judgment. This is your personal evaluation based on
the understandings of the work(s). Here are questions you might consider:
1. Why do you think that this work has intrinsic value or worth? What is the
value that you find in the work(s)? (For example, it is a beautiful work of
art, conveys an important social message, affects the way that I see the
world, makes insightful connections, reaffirms a religious belief, etc.)
2. Do you think that the work(s) has a benefit for others? Do you find that the
work communicates an idea, feeling or principle that would have value for
others?
3. What kind of an effect do you think the work could have for others?
4. Does the work lack value or worth? Why do you think this is so?
Could the reason you find the work lacking come from a poor use of
the elements of art? Could the subject matter by unappealing,
unimaginative, or repulsive?
5. Rather than seeing the work as being very effective or without total
value, does the work fall somewhere in-between? Do you think that the
work is just o.k.? What do you base this opinion on? The use of
elements of art? Lack of personal expression? The work lacks a major
focus? Explore your criticism of the work (s) as much as you would any
positive perceptions. Realize that your own tastes and prejudices may
enter into your criticism. Give your positive and negative perceptions.

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