Art Criticism
Searching for Aesthetic Qualities
The methods
used by art critics
to identify the
qualities judged in
artwork involve
four steps:
•Description
•Analysis
•Interpretation
•Judgment
•Art criticism is not a matter of casual observation
and impulsive expressions of likes or dislikes.
• It is a reasoned activity of the mind.
•Art critics use the operation of description,
analysis, interpretation and judgment to gain
information from the artwork
Used by a critic,
each of these 4
steps direct
attention to internal
clues- clues found
in the work itself.
When examining
any work of art,
critics ask and
answer questions
such as:
•What is seen in the
artwork?
•How is the artwork
designed?
•What does it
mean?
•Is it a successful
work of art?
The
Four Steps to Critic works of art
• What do I see?
•
•
•
•
Description
Analysis
Interpretation
Judgment
• How is it designed?
• What do I feel?
• Is it successful
•
Description
Step #1
• Description: Begin by
listing everything seen
in the work including
the elements of art
found in the work.
• Include the credit line
• In this step you
identify the literal
qualities which is how
realistic the piece
looks
•
•
Silent desert landscape illuminated by a perfectly round, cool
moon. Few stars in blue night sky; lion sniffs at a gypsy asleep
on sand next to oasis; lying on a carpet; beside him mandolin
and large jug; in his hand staff used to trek across desert.
No footprints in sand-oversight or on purpose-think about for
step 3; lion not realistic-tail out straight gracefully-mane
arranged carefully-remind us of stuffed animal?-button-like
eyes; peacefully asleep but not comfortable position; no
sandals; colorful clothing showing no sign of hard day’s travel.
Identify the elements of art-Line, shape, form, texture, space,
value, color
Henri Rousseau. The Sleeping Gypsy. 1897. Oil on
canvas. 51”x67”. Museum of Modern Art, NY
Analysis Step-#2
•Use the principles of design to determine how the
elements of art are arranged in the picture.
•This step focuses on the design qualities-how well the
work is organized or put together-look for overall sense
of unity.
Interpretation Step#3
•Interpret the meaning of
an artwork.
•Refer to everything
learned from the work
during the description
and analysis
•Concern centers on
identifying the
expressive qualities or
the meaning, mood, or
idea communicated to
the viewer.
•Works may be
interpreted in different
ways by different people
because each person’s
interpretation is personal
and is based on their
experiences.
Painting has an uneasy mood due to the manner in which the
elements and principles were used to show a strange,
haunting subject: a helpless gypsy asleep in a mysterious
landscape, unaware of the lion hovering over him. The
absence of footprints seems to support the idea that the
picture represents a dream rather than reality. Some may
recognize their own feeling of helplessness when they find
themselves alone and facing the unexpected in a dream.
Whose dream is it-the gypsy’s or the viewer’s? Each person
can decide for themselves.
Literal qualities-(from step #1) realistic
presentation of subject matter in a work of art.
Quality favored by imitationalists.
Imitationalists favor realism.
Design qualities-(from step #2) how well the work
is organized or put together. This aesthetic quality is
favored by formalists.
Formalists favor work designed will.
Expressive qualities- (from step #3) qualities
having to do with the meaning, mood, or idea
communicated to the viewer through a work of art.
Quality favored by emotionalists.
Emotionalists favor work full of emotion.
Aesthetic Qualities…………are all three put together
Judgment Step #4
•This step is an important part of the art criticism process in order to demonstrate a
genuine appreciation for art.
• The act of making a judgment and defending that judgment with good reasons
demonstrates that a person understands and appreciates a work of art.
•How a critic judges a work of art depends largely on the theory or theories of art he
favors.
•These theories help identify the different aesthetic qualities found in the artwork.
They are important because they represent the criteria or proof on which judgments
are based.
Painting Title: Three Musicians 1921
Oil on canvas - 200.7 x 222.9 cm
Pablo Picasso:
Telephone Booths (1968), Oil on canvas.
Painting by Richard Estes
Courbet, Gustave (1819-1877) - 1849-50
A Burial at Ornans
La classe de danse (The Dancing class),
c.1873-75 by Edgar Degas, Museé
d'Orsay, Paris.
Piet Mondrian
Claes Oldenburg