An art criticism essay requires analyzing artwork through various critical frameworks while expressing a subjective perspective. The writer must have an in-depth knowledge of art history and theory to discern details in the artwork and understand diverse critical methodologies. They also need strong research, writing, and argumentation skills to analyze composition, symbolism, and cultural context; articulate their interpretation coherently; and construct an objective argument grounded in theory. Successfully meeting these challenges results in an essay that critically engages with the artwork and cultural discourse.