Lesson Plan Submitted by: Betsy Larson
Art Criticism
Art criticism involves a specific way
of looking at a work of art. You
can make discernment about art without being a professional artist, all
you need to do is learn to look (see) and think about what you are seeing.
Learning how to
criticize artwork properly will allow you to better understand works of
art and why they have become important.
The process of art
criticism involves 4 actions. They
are: describe, analyze, interpret and decide.
Some guidelines to
help you are below:
Describe
- what things are in the painting? Think of things like clothing,
environment, etc.
Analyze
- how are the elements of line, shape, form, texture, space and value
used? How are the
principles of unity pattern, rhythm, variety, balance, emphasis and
proportion used?
Interpret
- what is the artist trying to say to you? What is going on in the picture
or artwork?
Decide- What do I think about this artwork? Do
I like it? Why or why not?
How do I feel about
whether the artist was successful in conveying an idea?
To better understand
about deciding about how you feel about an artwork, it may help to take a
look at the three common aesthetic theories below.
Is the artwork
successful because:
Imitationalism/Realism
- The artist rendered the images in a realistic manner.
It is easy to discern the subject because of the realistic quality
of the art.
Formalism/Composition
- The artist was adept in
using the elements and principles of design in the artwork.
(This also refers to the placement, contrast, and interaction of
all parts of the work.)
Emotionalism/Feelings- The
artist did a good job of evoking an emotion or feeling from me.
Go to Art Criticism Assessment
