When you look at an artwork you should ART CRITICISM When you look at an artwork you should Ask yourself questions Find out information to help you better understand the artist Think about the artwork and Why it has been created This is called ‘Art Criticism’. Art Criticism is responding to an artwork in an intelligent way

MOUNTAINS AT COLLIOURE by ANDRE DERAIN Using the prompt sheet “How to Look at Art” We are going to analyse MOUNTAINS AT COLLIOURE by ANDRE DERAIN (Write this down as the title of your analysis)

First – WRITE ABOUT THE ARTIST Fauvism was an art movement that happened between 1905 and 1907. The word ‘FAUVE’ is French and translate as “Wild Beast” Artists like Maurice De Vlaminck, Andre Derain and Henri Matisse were called ‘Fauve’ when they displayed their paintings in the Art galleries in Paris. Andre Derain Andre Derain was born in France and attended the Academie Camillo Art School. When he was there he became friends with another Fauvist artist – Henri Mattise. In 1900 he met and shared a artist studio with Maurice de Vlaminck (another Fauvist Artist) and together they painted their first Fauvist landscapes. In 1906 Derain visited London, and painted 30 cityscapes. These scenes were radically different from anything done by previous painters of the city because of the way he used colours in an unrealistic and bold way.

MOUNTAINS AT COLLIOURE by ANDRE DERAIN 1905

Second – WRITE ABOUT THE ARTWORK To begin with write about the CONTENT of the artwork. What is it about? What is happening? What is being shown to us? Content Landscape of mountains and trees. There is a path or river going through the trees. Now – write about the landscape in proper descriptive sentences.

Then write about the FORM of the artwork. What kind of colours have been used – bright/dull, realistic/abstracted. What is the Texture like? Is the artwork showing smooth or rough texture? Does the artwork show the subject as 3D shapes or do they look flat? Form Derain uses complementary colours in his landscape. He paints orange and blue mountains and red and green trees. The colours he uses abstract the landscape.

Next write about the PROCESS of the artwork. What kind of artwork is it? What type of paint has been used? What tools were used to make the Artwork? Brushes, palette knives etc. Was the artwork made from Observation or from secondary sources like photos or sketches? Did the artist take their time over the artwork, or was it completed quickly? Process It is a painting using oil paints There are visible paintbrush strokes in the painting.

Third – WRITE ABOUT WHY THE ARTWORK WAS PAINTED So Why did artists begin to paint in this unrealistic and abstracted way?? Why did they not paint normally/realistically?? Artist for the last 150 years (approx) have turned from painting painstakingly realistic to showing us much more in their artwork. What do you think could be some of the things that artist show us – instead of what can only be seen? Emotions Feelings Opinions memories etc?

Fourth – WRITE ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK OF THE ART What does the artwork make you feel when you are looking at it? Do you like the painting? Do you understand the Artists Intentions? What do you think the artist’s feelings were when the artwork was made? Does the artwork capture an emotion or mood or feeling that you can relate to? When I look at this painting I feel…….. Because……. [ This answer is totally personal to you, There is no wrong answer – but you must consider your answer carefully and have a clear reason for your feelings.]

MOUNTAINS AT COLLIOURE by ANDRE DERAIN 1905