1. Art Criticism and Aesthetics
Chapter Four
Art Criticism and Aesthetics

2. Art Criticism
Art critics examine works of art searching for aesthetic qualities:
The qualities that can increase their understanding of the works and serve as the criteria on which their judgments are based

3. Art Criticism
Critiquing a work of art is a reasoned activity of the mind

4. Art Criticism
Art critics use the following operations to judge a work of art:
1) Description
2) Analysis
3) Interpretation
4) Judgment

5. 1) Description 2) Analysis Identify the literal qualities
Decide how well the design qualities of a work are put together or organized

6. 3) Interpretation 4) Judgment Consider the expressive
qualities, meaning, mood
and idea being communicated
4) Judgment
Making a decision about a work of art that demonstrates careful critic

7. Aesthetic Theories Used to make aesthetic judgments about art:
Imitationalism
Formalism
Emotionalism

8. Imitationalism Stresses the importance of literal qualities
The degree of realism a work of art displays

12. Formalism
A theory in which the success of the work depends on the design qualities or the way it is organized
Most important is the effective use of the principles of design

15. Emotionalism
A theory in which success of an artwork depends on its ability to communicate an emotion or idea to the viewer
Emphasis is placed on expressive qualities
Feeling
Mood

20. It is important to use multiple theories when critiquing a work of art as to not limit yourself to rely on a singular aesthetic

21. Examining Non-Object Works
Non-objective art: any artwork that contains no apparent reference to reality

22. Examining Non-Object Works
Begin with an inventory of art elements used in the work and then continue to previous steps