Art Criticism is:

Analysis of art from the standpoint of a professional taste, disciplinary laws and contemporary trends;

Increasing the value of art objects;

Attempt to approach an understanding of what is quality art.

Art-criticism as a driving force of art

Impressionists

Cubists

Modernists

What unites all of them?

Art-criticism became the real accelerator of their public recognition. Through the scandals, frustration, misunderstanding and rude, sarcastic language, these artists have become known

We are all obsessed with happiness

The way how it works in normal conditions

The classic tools of modern art critics:

- A quick overview of previous works by the artist, his background, awards, quotes – in order to identify common trend of his creativity;

Also:

- metaphors based on the comparison of the painter with his own previous experience, with his opponents, predecessors or followers;

- analysis of his current activities, exhibitions – in terms of demand trends, genre, time and audience (the most subjective approach).

This system looks clear and well-functioning...

This system looks clear and well-functioning

But everything changes when tastes invade art criticism

Mark Rothko, Red, Black and Maroon (1957)

Analytic categories for any works of art in Europe and the United States art-criticism:

- topicality- professionalism- innovation- technique- loyalty to own style- benefits- limitations- impression created by the artist on the other critics

Analytic categories of art in the post-Soviet Russia:

- «good»

- «bad» («do not understand»)

Reason?

- low culture of dispute;

- the lack of expertise on the subject;

- the high level of print media commercialization:

High-brow

reviews

advertising contracts with mass-market

Thus:

Modern art criticism is a formal sector of journalism; subjective taste of a journalist, prepared in professional terms and laced with snobbery, style and provocation

Taste sells

Thank you