Feldman’s Method of Art
Criticism
A way of looking at art.
Vocabulary:
• Art Criticism: An organized approach to
studying a work of art. It has four steps:
describe, analyze, interpret and judge.
The 4 Steps:
1. Describe: What do you see in the work of art?
This can include the literal objects, like people,
places and things. It can also include the
elements of art, like lines, shapes, colors,
textures, values, forms and space.
Describe this Painting:
What things do you
see?
What Elements of
Art do you see?
In your notes, name
three things.
The Banjo Lesson, Henry
Tanner, 1893, American.
The 4 Steps:
2. Analyze: How are the Elements of Art
organized? In other words, which Principles of
Design are being applied in the work of art?
Analyze this Painting:
What Principles of
Design do you see?
Name 2 Principles
of deisgn that you
see in your notes.
Be specific.
The Banjo Lesson, Henry
Tanner, 1893, American.
The 4 Steps:
3. Interpret: What is the artist trying to say?
This can include either the:
- Story – a narrative the picture is telling.
- Mood - a feeling the artwork is showing.
- Meaning - a message the work of art is telling.
….or it can be all three!
Interpret this Painting:
What is this artist
trying to say?
Write the story and
the mood in your
notes.
The Banjo Lesson, Henry
Tanner, 1893, American.
The 4 Steps:
2. Judge: Is the work of art successful?
A work of art can be successful or unsuccessful
technically and conceptually.
Technically successful means the artist used the
Elements and Principles well, and used their
materials well.
Conceptually successful means the artist had good
ideas and communicated them well to the viewer.
Interpret this Painting:
Is this work of art
successful?
Why or why not?
Write down if you
think the work of
art is successful.
Explain why or why
not.
The Banjo Lesson, Henry
Tanner, 1893, American.
Postcard Art Criticism CW :
You will be given a reproduction of a work of art to
look at and write about. You will discuss your work
of art with 1-2 other people. Each person will
submit a separate completed assignment.
First, on a piece of paper write:
- The title of the artwork.
- The name of the artist.
- Date the artwork was made.
- Nationality of the artist.
- Media of the artwork.
Part 1: Postcard Art Criticism Pre-Writing:
1. DESCRIBE:
Create a list of at least ten things you see in the
work of art.
Remember to include actual objects, like people,
things and places.
Also list Elements of Art, like lines, colors,
shape and values. Be specific (i.e. “curvy lines in the
bottom of the painting”, not just “lines”)
2. ANALYZE
- Identify 2 Principles of Design that the artist
used in the artwork.
- Explain how the artist used each Principle. Be
specific.
3. INTERPRET
Identify and write down 2 possible meanings,
moods or stories within the work of art.
Give supporting evidence for each. Cite
examples from the artwork.
4. JUDGE
Do you think the work of art was successful?
Explain why or why not. Cite examples from the
artwork.
Part 2: Formal Art Critique (individual)
Write a 1 page critique of the art work on your
postcard.
- Introduce the general information about the
artwork (Title, Artist, Media, Country, Date).
- Include your description, analysis, interpretation
and judgment from your pre-writing exercise.
- Cite specific examples from the artwork to support
each part of your critique.
Interpretation Prompt:
(6-8 Sentences)
This is the famous painting “Nighthawks” by Edward Hopper. Pick
one person in the painting and tell a story about who he or she is.
Aesthetic Criteria
Categorizing works of art.
Vocabulary:
• Aesthetics: A set of principles concerned with
the nature and appreciation of beauty,
especially in art.
• Subject Matter: What a work of art is of or
about.
3 Categories:
1. Realistic (red)
2. Distorted (yellow)
3. Abstract (blue)
1.
2.
3.
Aesthetic Criteria CW:
1. Choose 1 postcard from each category (realistic,
distorted or abstract).
2. Write down the category, the name of the artist,
the title of the artwork, date, country and media.
3. Answer the following questions about each card
(2-3 sentences):
1. Which category (realistic, distorted or
abstract) does the card fall into? Explain.