AVI 1O – VISUAL ARTS
UNIT 3 – ART CRITICISM AND AESTHETICS
ART CRITIQUE
Criticism is the process of gathering facts and
information from artworks in order to make
intelligent judgments about them. To conduct an
art critique, one must learn as much as they can
from the artwork as possible – unlike the art
historian who investigates about the work.
Hence, to conduct an effective critical analysis of
a work of art, the critique must rely on the critic’s
knowledge and application of the critique process
to properly conduct a visual analysis as well as to
rely on their understanding of the elements and
principles of art, and their appreciation for works
of art in general.
It is designed to allow someone to “view and
understand” a particular piece of art without ever
having seen it. It includes an in-depth description
of the art, its what, how and why, as well as an
aesthetic judgment of the effectiveness and
success of the piece.
Lawren S. Harris. North Shore, Lake Superior. Oil on canvas. 102.2 x 128.3cm.
National Gallery of Canada.
The Objective
To analyze/critique a piece of visual artwork.
Your Task
You are to plan, research (strictly in direct relation to the selected artwork), prepare, and present (in written form) a
critical analysis of 400 to 600 words on one of the artworks listed below. You will be required to provide
evidence of your research along with the completed paper.
Artist
Artwork
Artist
Artwork
William Kurelek
Benjamin West
Vincent van Gogh
Michelangelo Merisi da
Carravaggio
Franz Marc
Manitoba Party
The Death of General Wolfe
Cafe Terrace at Night
The Calling of Saint Matthew
Lawren S. Harris
Gerhard Richter
Pierre Auguste Renoir
Jacob Jordaens
North Shore, Lake Superior
Station
Luncheon of the Boat Party
As the Old Sing, So the Young Pipe
The Yellow Cow
Robert Harris
A Meeting of the School Trustees
AVI 1O – VISUAL ARTS
UNIT 3 – ART CRITICISM AND AESTHETICS
Format for Written Critique
 Length: 400 – 600 words (1 ½ - 2 pages)
 Format: MLA format (introduction, 3-4 paragraph body, conclusion), Arial or Times New Roman 12pt font,
1 inch margins, 1 ½ spacing, title page (as per required title page format)
ART CRITIQUE
“title of artwork”
Sample Title Page format
Presented to Mr. Letendre
AVI 1O
St. Thomas Aquinas CHS
Date
Student Name


Communication: proper use of the visual arts vocabulary, appropriate spelling and use of grammatical
conventions, proper application of the 3-5 part essay format
Points to cover in your critique (review your art critique worksheet for reference):
o Description
 “What do you see?”
o Analysis
 “How are the parts of this work arranged?”
o Interpretation
 “What do I believe is happening?”
o Judgment
 “Is this artwork successful?”
Resources
1. Beckett, Sister Wendy. Sister Wendy’s Grand Tour – Discovering Europe’s Great Art. New York: Stewart Tabori and Chang, 1994.
ISBN 1-55670-509-3
2. Brommer, Gerald F. Discovering Art History, 3rd ed. Worcester, MA: Davis Publications, 1999.
ISBN 0-87192-299-1
3. Brommer, Gerald F. Collage Techniques: A Guide for Artists and Illustrators. Watson-Guptill Publishing, 1994. ISBN 0823006557
4. Chilvers, I and Osborne, H. (eds.). The Oxford Dictionary of Art. New Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. ISBN 01986-0084-4
5. Garlick, Dr. Kenneth (ed.) The Book of Art A Pictorial Encyclopaedia of Painting, Drawing, and Sculpture. Revised ed, Vol. 6: British
and North American Art to 1900. Vol. 10: How to Look At Art. Italy: Grolier, 1997. ISBN 0-7172-7356-3
6. Janson, Anthony. History of Art. Prentice Hall, 1995. ISBN 0810934213
7. Mayer, R. and S. Sheehan. The Artist’s Handbook of Materials and Techniques. Toronto: Penguin Books, 1991. ISBN 0670837016
8. Mittler, Gene A. Art in Focus. New York: Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, 1994. ISBN 0-02-662312-9
9. Murray, Joan. Canadian Art in the Twentieth Century. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1999.
ISBN 1-55002-332-2
10. Ochoa, George, and Melinda Corey. The Wilson Chronology of the Arts. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1998. ISBN 0-82420934-6
11. Reichold, Klaus and Bernhard Graf. Paintings that Changed the World, From Lascaux to Picasso. New York: Prestel, 1998. ISBN 37913-1983-3
12. Reid, Dennis. A Concise History of Canadian Painting, 2nd ed. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1988. ISBN 0-19-540663-X
13. Rosenblum, R. and H.W. Janson. 19th Century Art. N.Y.: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1984.
AVI 1O – VISUAL ARTS
UNIT 3 – ART CRITICISM AND AESTHETICS
ISBN 0-13-622621-3
14. Rossol, M. The Artist’s Complete Health and Safety Guide. New York: Allworth Press, 1994.
15. Roukes, Nicholas. Humour in Art – A Celebration of Visual Wit. Worcester, Mass: Davis Publications Inc., 1997. ISBN 0-87192-3041
16. Silver, Larry. Art in History. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc., 1993. ISBN 1-55859-605-4
Internet
www.falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/arteducation.htm (Art education)
www.getty.edu/artsednet/ (Art education)
www.gallery.ca (National Gallery of Canada)
www.nativetech.org (Native art)
www.kstrom.net/isk/art/art.html (Native art)
www.moma.org (Art Gallery-USA)
www.ago.net (Art Gallery-USA)
www.nationalgallery.ca (Art Gallery-Ontario)
www.tate.org.uk (Museum-England)
www.metmuseum.org (Museum-USA)
www.louvre.fr (Museum-France)
www.rbcm1.rbcm.gov.bc.ca/index.html (Museum- BC)
www.artlex.com
AVI 1O – VISUAL ARTS
UNIT 3 – ART CRITICISM AND AESTHETICS
Assessment and Evaluation
CRITERIA
LEVEL 1
Knowledge/Understanding
The student:
Demonstrate an understanding
of the process required to write
a critical analysis the visual
content and the use of
elements and principles of
design in a selected artwork.
Demonstrates an
understanding of the
process of critical
analysis with limited
success.
Thinking/Inquiry
The student:
Demonstrate the ability to
respond and understand a work
of art with an understanding of
the artist's form and function.
Responds to and
understands the artist's
form and function with
limited effectiveness.
Communication
The student:
Communicates the results of
art criticism of a given artwork
in written form, using
appropriate terms, vocabulary
and concepts.
Uses proper introductory, body,
and concluding paragraphs.
Explain in detail and with
correct terminology the
techniques, materials, and tools
used to create a specific
artwork.
Explain in detail how
knowledge of the artwork's
cultural and historical context
clarifies and enriches their
understanding and
interpretation of the work.
LEVEL 3
LEVEL 4
Demonstrates an
understanding of the
process of critical
analysis with some
success.
Demonstrates an
understanding of the
process of critical
analysis with
considerable success.
Demonstrates an
understanding of the
process of critical
analysis with a high
degree of success.
Responds to and
understands the artist's
form and function with
some effectiveness.
Responds to and
understands the artist's
form and function with
considerable
effectiveness.
Responds to and
understands the artist's
form and function with
a high degree of
effectiveness.
Communicates the
results of art criticism of
a given artwork in
written form, using
appropriate terms,
vocabulary and
concepts with limited
success.
Uses proper
introductory and
concluding paragraphs
with limited success.
Communicates the
results of art criticism of
a given artwork in
written form, using
appropriate terms,
vocabulary and
concepts with some
success.
Uses proper
introductory and
concluding paragraphs
with some success.
Uses the correct
terminology to explain
the techniques,
materials, and tools
used with limited
success.
Explains the artwork's
cultural and historical
context with limited
effectiveness.
Uses the correct
terminology to explain
the techniques,
materials, and tools
used with some
success.
Explains the artwork's
cultural and historical
context with some
effectiveness.
Communicates the
results of art criticism of
a given artwork in
written form, using
appropriate terms,
vocabulary and
concepts with
considerable success.
Uses proper
introductory and
concluding paragraphs
with considerable
success.
Uses the correct
terminology to explain
the techniques,
materials, and tools
used with considerable
success.
Explains the artwork's
cultural and historical
context with
considerable
effectiveness.
Communicates the
results of art criticism of
a given artwork in
written form, using
appropriate terms,
vocabulary and
concepts with a high
degree of success.
Uses proper
introductory and
concluding paragraphs
with a high degree of
success.
Uses the correct
terminology to explain
the techniques,
materials, and tools
used with a high degree
of success.
Explains the artwork's
cultural and historical
context with a high
degree of effectiveness.
Makes connections
between prior
knowledge and new
information to evaluate
the effectiveness and
success of the chosen
artwork with
considerable success.
Makes connections
between prior
knowledge and new
information to evaluate
the effectiveness and
success of the chosen
artwork with a high
degree of success.
Application
The student:
Evaluate the effectiveness and
success of an artwork based on
the views and philosophies of
art aesthetics.
Makes connections
between prior
knowledge and new
information to evaluate
the effectiveness and
success of the chosen
artwork with limited
success.
STUDENT NAME:
LEVEL 2
Makes connections
between prior
knowledge and new
information to evaluate
the effectiveness and
success of the chosen
artwork with some
success.
OVERALL LEVEL ACHIEVED
LEVEL
ACHIEVED