CRITIQUING A WORK OF ART 2 nd Semester Arts and Humanities

Critiquing Art craftsmanship conceptdesignoriginality  A critique is a critical evaluation of a work of art. There is a common misconception in which “art is anything, or in the eye of the beholder”. Just like with music there is good and bad. When critiquing art, a standard four-step form of evaluation looks at aspects of the work, such as the craftsmanship, concept, design and originality. Only after looking at the work with an objective eye should you consider your own feelings and reactions to it.originality

Critiquing Art 1)Tell what you see using objective facts. A. What is the medium? B. Who is the artist? C. What is the title? D. When was it done? E. What is the style or period of the piece?

Critiquing Art A. What is the medium? The artist used oil on canvas as his chosen medium. B. Who is the artist? The artist is Vincent Van Gogh. C. What is the title? The title of this piece is Starry Night. D. When was it done? The painting was created in the mid 19 th Century. E. What is the style or period of the piece? The style of this piece is Post Impressionism, with an emphasis on impasto.

Critiquing Art  Paragraph 1  The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. This painting was created using oil on canvas. The artist created it using the techniques of Post Impressionism with an emphasis of using impasto. It was completed during the mid 19 th century.

Critiquing Art 2)Break the work down to its elements and consider how they work together in the work as a whole. A. Looking at elements such as colors, texture, lines, shapes, movement, repetition, empty space, light and contrast, see how these used. B. Asses the artist's craftsmanship and techniques. Are the materials, colors, and textures appropriate to the aesthetic design. Is the materials used properly.

Critiquing Art A. How are the elements used? The artist uses color to create contrast. He also uses curved lines to create a calmness in the piece. B. Is craftsmanship present and how? Van Gogh used thick overlaying colors to create a rich and vibrant piece. The paint was applied thickly to create textures in the line. I believe he used the materials properly for the concept he was creating.

Critiquing Art  Paragraph 2  The elements of art are present in the piece by Vincent Van Gogh. The artist uses color to create contrast. He also uses curved lines to create a calmness in the piece. Van Gogh used thick overlaying colors to create a rich and vibrant piece. The paint was applied thickly to create textures in the line. I believe he used the materials properly for the concept he was creating.

Critiquing Art 3)Express what the work means to you and how it makes you feel. A. Use your experiences and knowledge to determine what the artist is trying to say with the work. experiences B. Personalize this step and indicate how this work relates to you.

Critiquing Art A. What is the artist trying to express? This painting by Van Gogh creates a liquid dream like state for the viewer. As if they are looking into the night between sleep and reality. B. How does the work relate to you? I can see how the artist is trying to capture the state between dream and reality in a work. How the swirling lines make the work seem like a blur, as if the picture is not fully in focus.

Critiquing Art  Paragraph 3  This painting by Van Gogh creates a liquid dream like state for the viewer. As if they are looking into the night between sleep and reality. I can see how the artist is trying to capture the state between dream and reality in a work. How the swirling lines make the work seem like a blur, as if the picture is not fully in focus.

Critiquing Art 4)Evaluate the work based on the results of the previous steps. A. Decide if you think the work is a success or failure. B. Explain how it could be improved upon it tried again.

Critiquing Art A. Is the work a success? I believe Van Gogh’s painting of Starry Night is a success. It is in that the artist has used color, line, contrast, and painting technique to create his dream like imagery in the viewers eye. B. How can it be improved? This piece is a masterwork in art. There isn’t anyway it could be improved upon. Though a literal individual might want less lucid of a scene. A more realistic approach could be viewed as more desirable, though the impact of the piece would be lost if taken in this direction.

Critiquing Art  Paragraph 4  I believe Van Gogh’s painting of Starry Night is a success. It is in that the artist has used color, line, contrast, and painting technique to create his dream like imagery in the viewers eye. This piece is a masterwork in art. There isn’t anyway it could be improved upon. Though a literal individual might want less lucid of a scene. A more realistic approach could be viewed as more desirable, though the impact of the piece would be lost if taken in this direction. All in all the work of art is sublime in it’s finished product and the work of a true genius.

Your Turn  Artist: Caravaggio  Medium: Oil on canvas  Date:1607