ART Critique

1. ART Critique

2. Process • Art Critiquing process is about organizing your thoughts about a particular piece of art.

3. 4 Areas • Description • Analysis • Interpretation • Judge

4. Art Language • In order to talk intelligently about the art you need to be familiar with the art language • Elements • Principles

5. Description • Describe the work without using value words such as "beautiful" or "ugly": • What is the written description on the label or in the program about the work? • What is the title and who is (are) the artist(s)? • When and where was the work created? • Describe the elements of the work (i.e., line movement, light, space). • Describe the technical qualities of the work (i.e., tools, materials, instruments). • Describe the subject matter. What is it all about? Are there recognizable images?

6. Is this work abstract? Is it Realistic? • 1- This is a painting by Jasper Johns.2- It was painted in 1939.3- The artist uses different tints of blue, golden yellow and red.4- The painting shows overlapping numbers.5- The painting is called Numbers.6- The numbers take up most of the canvas. • Many of the facts come from the information found in the Credit Line. Other facts came from looking at the work and describing what is there. • Can you think of any other informational statements you could make about this painting? Jasper Johns (American) b.1930, Numbers 1939, Oil on wood

7. Description • the idealist • 8x10 • oil on canvas

8. Analysis • Describe how the work is organized as a complete composition: • How is the work constructed or planned (i.e., acts, movements, lines)? • Identify some of the similarities throughout the work (i.e., repetition of lines, two songs in each act). • Identify some of the points of emphasis in the work (i.e., specific scene, figure, movement). • If the work has subjects or characters, what are the relationships between or among them

9. Composition, or how the different Elements of Art and the subjects are arranged in a work of art, should also be considered when making an Analysis. How is this work composed? Look at this work by American artist Edward Hopper. Using the checklist, how did Hopper organize the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design in this work? Edward Hopper (American) Nighthawks 1942 Oil on Canvas 30 x 60 inches

10. Composition • Look at how the artist broke up the canvas into a series of horizontal and vertical lines. • Notice that the lines and the shapes made by the lines create an organized and balanced composition. • Now look at the area highlighted in red. • Hopper chose to place the four figures to the right side of the painting. • He also chose to light up this area. The additional light draws the eye to this section.

11. Analysis

12. Interpretation • Describe how the work makes you think or feel: • Describe the expressive qualities you find in the work. What expressive language would you use to describe the qualities (i.e., tragic, ugly, funny)? • Does the work remind you of other things you have experienced (i.e., analogy or metaphor)? • How does the work relate to other ideas or events in the world and/or in your other studies?

13. Paper Boats. What was the artist trying to say to us? Which Elements of Art and Principles of Design does he use to express his meaning? • Notice that the boys' three bodies form a triangle. A triangle represents stability and solidness. These boys appear to be very comfortable playing next to each other. The bodies form a balanced composition. • Lawrence uses Primary Colors to create a sense of simplicity. This adds to the fact that these boys are doing what boys everywhere do: They are playing together building paper boats. • The ideas of the simple activity of playing is emphasized by Lawrence's treatment of the background. There are areas or shapes of pure color. Very little detail has been painted in the background. • Notice the use of strong horizontal and vertical lines. He uses these lines to create a sense of space in the picture. • The boys are obviously very involved in the boats. All of the boys are looking down at the boats. It appears as if they are going to race them for fun. I think this is a picture of an urban environment because of the fire escape in thebackground. Often city children would build paper boats and race them in the street gutters after a rain.

14. Interpretation Michele Zarb Following the Circle Mixed Media16"(H) x 10"(W)

15. Judgment or Evaluation • Present your opinion of the work's success or failure: • What qualities of the work make you feel it is a success or failure? • Compare it with similar works that you think are good or bad. • What criteria can you list to help others judge this work? • How original is the work? Why do you feel this work is original or not original?

16. Look very carefully at this painting • . Do you see Magritte's illusion? • Do you like works that make you think? • Why do you think this painting was titled The Human Condition? Can you see the symbolism in the painting by the window becoming part of the background? • Have you ever felt that you were unnoticed? • Do you like this painting? If you could re-title the piece, what would you call it? Why? Rene Magritte, (Belgium) 1898-1967, The Human Condition,

17. Judgment • Portrait of an Old Man • Oil on canvas