Art Aesthetics & Criticism How to “Read” Art

How to “Read” Art

4 steps of art criticism Description Analysis Interpretation Judgment Paul Klee. Ad Parnassum . 1932. Oil on canvas. (39 x 49 in.).

Description

Analysis

Interpretation

Judgment

step 1: description What is the name of the artist? What kind of artwork is it? What is the name of the artwork? When was it created? Name some other major events in history that occurred at the same time as the artwork. Gathering Facts... Hughie Lee-Smith. The Piper . 1953. Oil on canvas. (22 x 35 1/4 in.).

What is the name of the artist?

What kind of artwork is it?

What is the name of the artwork?

When was it created?

Name some other major events in history that occurred at the same time as the artwork.

step 1: description List the literal objects in the painting (trees, people, animals, mountains, rivers, etc.) Consider the significant art elements that are present in the artwork and describe them. Line Shape Form Space Hughie Lee-Smith. The Piper . 1953. Oil on canvas. (22 x 35 1/4 in.). Texture Color Value

List the literal objects in the painting (trees, people, animals, mountains, rivers, etc.)

Consider the significant art elements that are present in the artwork and describe them.

Line

Shape

Form

Space

Texture

Color

Value

Vincent Van Gogh. The Starry Night . 1889. Oil on canvas. (29 x 36 1/4 in.).

step 2: analysis How are the principles of art used to organize the art elements ? Rhythm Movement Hughie Lee-Smith. The Piper . 1953. Oil on canvas. (22 x 35 1/4 in.). Variety Unity Pattern Balance Proportion Emphasis

How are the principles of art used to organize the art elements ?

Rhythm

Movement

Variety

Unity

Pattern

Balance

Proportion

Emphasis

step 2: analysis Imitationalism ( Literal Quality ): focuses on a realistic representation. Formalism (Formal Quality): Places emphasis on the arrangement of the elements of art using the principles of art. Emotionalism (Expressive Qualities) : Requires that an artwork must evoke a response of feelings, moods, or emotions in the viewer. Which of the following Qualities did the artist give to the artwork?

Imitationalism ( Literal Quality ): focuses on a realistic representation.

Formalism (Formal Quality): Places emphasis on the arrangement of the elements of art using the principles of art.

Emotionalism (Expressive Qualities) : Requires that an artwork must evoke a response of feelings, moods, or emotions in the viewer.

Vincent Van Gogh. The Starry Night . 1889. Oil on canvas. (29 x 36 1/4 in.).

step 3: interpretation Based on what you have learned so far about the artwork, what do you think the artist is trying to say? Why did the artist create this artwork? What do you think it means? What feelings do you have when looking at this artwork? Do you think there are things in the artwork that represent other things - symbols? Hughie Lee-Smith. The Piper . 1953. Oil on canvas. (22 x 35 1/4 in.).

Based on what you have learned so far about the artwork, what do you think the artist is trying to say?

Why did the artist create this artwork?

What do you think it means?

What feelings do you have when looking at this artwork?

Do you think there are things in the artwork that represent other things - symbols?

Vincent Van Gogh. The Starry Night . 1889. Oil on canvas. (29 x 36 1/4 in.).

step 4: judgment Do you like the artwork? Do you think it is an important artwork? Would you display it at home? Is it “good” enough for a museum? Justify your opinion! Explain your opinion using observations from the previous three steps. Hughie Lee-Smith. The Piper . 1953. Oil on canvas. (22 x 35 1/4 in.).

Do you like the artwork?

Do you think it is an important artwork?

Would you display it at home?

Is it “good” enough for a museum?

Justify your opinion! Explain your opinion using observations from the previous three steps.

Vincent Van Gogh. The Starry Night . 1889. Oil on canvas. (29 x 36 1/4 in.).

Now you try it... Write a DESCRIPTION for the following slide.

Write a DESCRIPTION for the following slide.

Pablo Picasso. Guernica. 1889. Oil on canvas. (11 x 23 ft.).

Guernica History Spanish Dictator, Francisco Franco granted Adolf Hitler permission to practice his new war strategy of bombing cities on a small Basque village in Northern Spain. On April 27, 1937 - market day - Hitler’s air force bombed Guernica for three hours killing over 1600 people. Picasso began making sketches for the mural one week after the bombing and completed the canvas on June 6, 1937.

Guernica History

Spanish Dictator, Francisco Franco granted Adolf Hitler permission to practice his new war strategy of bombing cities on a small Basque village in Northern Spain.

On April 27, 1937 - market day - Hitler’s air force bombed Guernica for three hours killing over 1600 people.

Picasso began making sketches for the mural one week after the bombing and completed the canvas on June 6, 1937.

Analysis : Which principles of design did Picasso use? Balance Unity Emphasis Visual Movement Variety Proportion

Analysis : Which principles of design did Picasso use?

Balance

Unity

Emphasis

Visual Movement

Variety

Proportion

Interpretation : What was Picasso trying to say? What is the bull a symbol of? Why does the texture on the horse look like newspaper? Why does all this happen in a room? Why are there two “lights”? Why does the warrior have a flower and a broken sword?

Interpretation : What was Picasso trying to say?

What is the bull a symbol of?

Why does the texture on the horse look like newspaper?

Why does all this happen in a room?

Why are there two “lights”?

Why does the warrior have a flower and a broken sword?

Judgment : Do you like it, or not - and why?

Judgment : Do you like it, or not - and why?