Orca Share Media1581996342333

Distortion
Elongation
Mangling
Cubism
Abstract Expressionism
ART CRITIQUE
-a detailed analysis and
evaluation of a work of art.
The basic elements of an art critique
are description, analysis,
interpretation, and judgment.
1. DESCRIBING THE ARTWORK
a. Gather basic information about the work. Knowing the
background of a piece can make a big difference in how you interpret
and understand it. Start your critique by providing the following
information:
• Title of the work
• Artist’s name
• When the piece was created
• Where it was made
• The types of media used to create the work (e.g., oil paint on
canvas)
• The exact size of the work
b. Describe what you see.
Using neutral terms, describe the
artwork. Your description should
include things like the form and scale
of the work. If the art depicts figures
or objects rather than abstract
shapes, describe what is represented.
b. Describe what you see.
• For example, you might say, “This is a small-scale portrait
painting of a young woman, shown from the mid-torso up,
against a dark background. She is clasping her hands in front of
her chest and looking up and slightly to the viewer’s right. She
wears a pink dress, and a long veil that falls behind her head.”
• Avoid using terms like “beautiful,” “ugly,” “good,” or “bad.”
At this point, you’re just talking about what you see, not judging
the art!
c. Discuss the elements of the work.
Now describe the work in more detail. Talk
about the way the art uses these five basic
elements of art and design: line, color, space,
light, and shape.
*Describe the use of line.
Lines in a work of art can be
either literal or implied. Different
types of lines can create different
moods or effects.
*Talk about how color is used in the work.
Make note of characteristics like hue (red,
green, blue, etc.), value (lightness or darkness),
and intensity. Look at overall color schemes,
and think about how the colors work together
*Describe the use of space in the work.
“Space” refers to the areas around and between
objects in a work. When talking about space,
focus on things like depth and perspective,
overlapping of objects, and the use of empty
space versus space crowded with details.
*Describe the use of light in the work.
Light in a work of art can look warm or
cool, bright or dim, natural or artificial.
Take a little time to talk about the role of
light and shadow in the work.
*Make note of the way shape is used in the
work. Are the shapes in the work geometric,
with straight lines and perfect curves, or are
they more natural? Is the work dominated by
any one particular type of shape, or do you see
a variety of different shapes?
2. ANALYZING THE ARTWORK
a. Discuss how the work uses the principles of
composition. Once you have described the
work, it’s time to analyze it, or discuss how it all
comes together. Start by talking about how the
work is composed, keeping a few basic ideas in
mind.
a. Discuss how the work uses the principles of composition.
For example
• Balance: How do the colors, shapes, and textures in the
piece work together? Do they create a balanced or harmonious
effect, or is the piece imbalanced in some way?
• Contrast: Does the work make use of contrasting colors,
textures, or lighting? Contrast can also be found in the use of
different shapes or contours, like jagged versus curved lines, or
geometric versus natural shapes.
a. Discuss how the work uses the principles of composition.
For example
• Movement: How does the work create a sense of
movement? Is your eye drawn through the composition in a
particular way?
• Proportion: Do the sizes of the different elements in the
work appear the way you would expect, or are they surprising?
For example, if the work shows a group of people, do any of the
figures look larger or smaller than they would in real life?
b. Identify the point(s) of focus of the work.
Most works of art have one or more points that are
designed catch your attention and draw your eye. In
a portrait, this may be the face or eyes of the
subject. In a still-life, it could be a centrally-placed or
well-lit object. Try to identify which parts of the
work are emphasized.
b. Identify the point(s) of focus of the work.
For example
• Look at the work and make note of which feature(s)
jump out at you right away, or keep drawing your eye back
to them.
• Ask yourself why your eye is attracted to the feature(s)
in question. For example, if you find yourself fixating on one
figure in a group, is it because that figure is larger than the
others? Are they closer to the viewer? More brightly lit?
c. Look for themes in the work.
Identify a few key themes, and discuss
how the artist used the elements of
design (color, light, space, shape, and
line) to express these themes.
c. Look for themes in the work.
Themes might include things like:
• The use of a color scheme to give
the work a particular mood or
meaning
• Repeating images or motifs within
a work or group of works.
3. INTERPRETING THE ARTWORK
a. Identify the purpose of the work.
In other words, what do you think the
artist was trying to say with the work?
Why did they create the work? Try to
summarize the overall meaning of the
work, as you see it.
b. Describe your own reaction to the
work. Now it’s time to get a little more
subjective. Think about how you feel while
looking at the work. What do you think is the
overall mood of the work? Does it remind you
of anything (ideas, experiences, other works of
art)?
c. Back up your interpretation with
examples. Use examples from your
description and analysis of the work
to explain why you think and feel the
way you do about the piece.
4. JUDGING THE ARTWORK
a. Decide whether you think the work
is successful or not. Your goal here
isn’t necessarily to decide whether
the art is “good” or “bad.” Instead,
focus on whether you think the work
is “successful.”
a. Decide whether you think the work is successful or
not.
For example
• Do you think the work says what the artist wanted it
to say?
• Did the artist use their tools and techniques well?
• Is the art original, or does it imitate other works?
b. Explain how you are judging the work. Once you
have decided on a few aspects of the work to judge,
clearly state the focus of your evaluation.
For example, you might say that you are judging the
piece on how well organized it is, how well done it is
technically, and how successfully it portrays the
intended mood or themes.
c. Summarize why you think the work is successful or
unsuccessful.
In a few sentences, explain your judgment of the work.
Give specific reasons for your judgment, using your
interpretation and analysis of the work.
• For example, “I believe this work is successful
because the use of light, shape, gesture, and line all work
together harmoniously to portray the mood of the
subject.”

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