Art Criticism and Aesthetics

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Art Criticism and Aesthetics

• Chapter 4

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Art Criticism Aesthetic Qualities

• Art critics search for aesthetic qualities that
  can increase their understanding of the works and
  serve as the criteria on which their judgments
  are based.

Juan Gris, Violin-Guitar,1913
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Art Criticism Approach

• What is seen in the artwork?
• How is the artwork designed?
• What does it mean?
• Is it a successful work of art?

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Art Criticism Approach

• Description Inventory of everything they see in
  the work. The literal qualities, or realistic
  presentation of subject matter, and the elements
  of art found in the work.
• Identify the elements of art present in the work.

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Art Criticism Approach
Diego Rivera, The Flower Carrier, 1936.
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Art Criticism Approach

• Analysis Using the principles of art to
  determine how the elements of art used in the
  picture are organized.
• Design qualities how well the work is
  organized, or put together.

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Van Gogh, Cottage, 1899.
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Swans Reflecting Elephants, Salvador Dali, 1937.
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Art Criticism Approach

• Interpretation Identifying the expressive
  qualities of meaning of the work based on his/her
  description and analysis of the work.

Andy Goldsworthy, Roof, 2005.
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Art Criticism Approach

• Judgment Making a judgment and defending it
  depends on the theory or theories of art the
  critic favors.

Jasper Johns, Flags, 1968. Color Lithograph.
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Aesthetics and Art Criticism

• Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy concerned
  with identifying the clues within artworks that
  can be used to understand, judge, and defend
  judgments about those works.

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Theories of Art

• Imitationalism (realism) Realistic presentation
  of subject matter. Reminds viewers of what can
  be seen in the real world.
• Formalism depends on the design qualities or
  the way it is organized.
• Emotionalism The artwork communicates an
  emotion or idea to the viewer.

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Imitationalism (Realism)
Andrew Wyeth, Master Bedroom, 1946
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Emotionalism
Jacob Lawrence, Confrontation on The Bridge, 1975
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Theories of Art

• The critic may use more than one theory.

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Nonobjective Art

• Any artwork that contains no apparent reference
  to reality.

Stuart Davis, Swing Landscape, 1938.
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Art Criticism Operations and Architecture

• You can use art criticism the same way with
  architecture Identify, Analyze, Interpret, and
  Judge.

Stuart Davis, Hot Stillscape For Six Colors
Seventh Avenue Style, 1940.