Introduction to Writing About Art

Instructor: Mrs. Christine Ege

Introduction to Art – DAD Department

18th March 2015

What is Art Criticism?

• Art criticism is responding to, interpreting meaning, and making critical

judgments about specific works of art.

• Art critics help viewers perceive, interpret, and judge artworks.

• Critics tend to focus more on modern and contemporary art from cultures

close to their own.

• Art historians tend to study works made in cultures that are more distant in

time and space.

• When initially introduced to art criticism, many people associate negative

connotations with the word “criticism.”

A professional art critic may be:

• A newspaper reporter

• A scholar writing for professional journals or books

• An artist writing about other artists

• Bloggers

FOUR LEVELS OF FORMAL

ANALYSIS, WHICH YOU CAN USE

TO EXPLAIN A WORK OF ART!

1. Description

Pure description of the object without

value, judgments, analysis, or

interpretation.

Answers the Question “What do you See?”

• The various elements that constitute a description include:A. Form of art whether architecture, sculpture, painting or one of the

minor artsB. Medium of work whether clay, stone, steel, paint, etc., and

techniques (tools used)C. Size and scale of work (relationship to person and / or frame and /

or context)D. Elements or general shape (architectural structural system) within

the composition, including building or post-lintel construction or painting with several figures lined up in a row; identification of objects

E. Description of axis whether vertical, diagonal, horizontal, etc.

Answers the Question “What do you See?”

• The various elements that constitute a description include:A. Description of line, including contour as soft, planar, jagged, etc..B. Description of how line describes shape and space (volume);

distinguish between lines of objects and lines of composition, e.g., thick, thin, variable, irregular, intermittent, indistinct, etc.

C. Relationships between shapes, e.g., large and small, overlapping, etc.

D. Description of color and color scheme = paletteE. Texture of surface or other comments about execution of workF. Context of object: original location and date

What to Include?• Artist’s name• Title of work• Type of work• Subject of the painting• Objects in the painting• First impression• Colors used• Shapes, lines, texture• Light saturation• Sensory qualities

Example of Description

This is Sunflowers by Vincent Van Gogh. It is an oil painting on

canvas, and is one of Van Gogh's most famous paintings. Although

the subject of the painting, a vase of sunflowers, might be

simple, the painting has enchanted viewers for decades because of its expressionistic

nature and brilliant use of color.

2. Analysis

Determining what the features suggest

and deciding why the artist used such

features to convey specific ideas.

It answers the question “How did the artist do it?”

• The various elements that constitute analysis include:A. Determination of subject matter through naming iconographic

elements, e.g., historical events, allegory, mythology, etc.B. Selection of most distinctive features or characteristics whether

line, shape, color, texture, etc.C. Analysis of the principles of design or composition, e.g., stable,

repetitious, rhythmic, unified, symmetrical, harmonious, geometric, varied, chaotic, horizontal or vertically oriented, etc.

D. Discussion of how elements or structural system contribute to appearance of image or function

It answers the question “How did the artist do it?”

• The various elements that constitute analysis include:A. Analysis of use of light and role of color, e.g., contrasty, shadowy,

illogical, warm, cool, symbolic, etc.B. Treatment of space and landscape, both real and illusionary

(including use of perspective), e.g., compact, deep, shallow, naturalistic, random

C. Portrayal of movement and how it is achievedD. Effect of particular medium(s) usedE. Your perceptions of balance, proportion and scale (relationships of

each part of the composition to the whole and to each other part) and your emotions

F. Reaction to object or monument

What to Include?• Color • Shapes, forms and lines• Texture• Light and shadow• How each technical element contributes to the mood,

meaning and aesthetic sensation of the artwork

Example of AnalysisHow simple it seems to be, a

mixture of yellow, ochre, green, and cream. Colors of the

everyday mixed with light to create another world. Light seems to emanate from the painting as if

the sun were truly shining from the adequately named

sunflowers. Splashing paint onto the canvas in quick, thick strokes

of paint Van Gogh was able to create a world of line and color, which entrances us to this day.

3. Interpretation

Establishing the broader context

for this type of art

It answers the question. “Why did the artist create it and what does it mean”?

• The various elements that constitute interpretation include: A. Main idea, overall meaning of the workB. Interpretive statement: can I express what I think the artwork is

about in one sentence?C. Evidence: what evidence inside or outside the artwork supports my

interpretation?

What to Include?

• Communicate the artist's statement.• Describe what you think the artist is trying to say through the work

of art

• Expound on the feeling conveyed by the artwork.• Describe that the artwork means to you, and why.

• Explain what you feel is the artist’s intended purpose for creating that particular work of art.• Examine why the artist made the choices in technique, materials

and subject matter and how they relate to the intended purpose.

• Identify symbols in the artwork and describe how they relate to the artist's technical choices and contribute to the artist’s execution of the intended purpose.

Example of Interpretation

Sunflowers was created at a time when Van Gogh was looking for a reprise from the world in which he was living. It was with his move from The Netherlands to

the south of France that Van Gogh began exploring different forms of self expression. We can see his struggle to

find a happier side of himself in the flowers themselves. If we take each

flower individually we can see that some are standing upright in full bloom, while others are wilting away. This must have been exactly how Van Gogh was feeling at the time, caught half way between a

world of utter happiness, and severe depression.

4. Judgment

Judging a piece of work means giving it

rank in relation to other works and of

course considering a very important

aspect of the visual arts; it originality.

Asks the Question: Is it a good artwork?

• The various elements that constitute interpretation include:

A. Criteria: what criteria do I think are most appropriate for judging the artwork?

B. Evidence: what evidence inside or outside the artwork relates to each criterion?

C. Judgment: Based on the criteria and evidence, what is my judgment about the quality of artwork?

What to Include?• State what you think the artwork’s value is. • For example, its value may be to evoke nostalgia, to incite

anger or to impart beauty. • Explain why you feel this way.

• Describe the artwork’s relevance to the art community and to people as a whole.• Explain where you feel the artwork has strong value and

where you think it falls short.

Example of Judgment

Although Sunflowers is one of the most famous painting in the world,

its subject matter is quite mundane. Compared to the

content exhibited in other works by Vincent Van Gogh, and other Neo-

Impressionists of the time, Sunflowers falls quite short. Its

popularity today speaks a lot to the drive of the modern viewer of art towards nostalgia, and therefore discredits a lot of what Van Gogh was striving for in this painting.

Tips• Remember, there are no incorrect descriptions when

you critique artwork. • Your goal is NOT to say whether or not the art is good,

but rather to impart as best you can the visceral response the artwork incites.• Use art vocabulary to help you write your art critique.• Use a lot of description words.• Try to avoid talking about yourself.• You are talking about the piece of work, NOT IF YOU

LIKE IT OR NOT.

YOUR TURN TO TRY

Use Vincent Van Gogh’s

Starry Night to help you write your

own piece of art criticism