How to Discuss
Artwork
4 Easy Steps to master
the Art Critique!
1. Describe
2. Analyze
3. Interpret
4. Judge
Step
1:
Description
Step 1: Description
-What kind of artwork is this
•What kind of artwork is this?
-Who
created it, and what is the title?
Who created this artwork, and what is the title?
-When
thisartwork
artwork
created? What major events in history
When was
was this
created?
occurred
thisevents
time?in history that occurred at the same time
What arearound
some major
thisthe
artwork
was created?
-List
objects
you see (trees, people, shapes, etc).
List the literal objects in the painting (trees, people, animals, etc.)
-Consider
the significant art elements that are present in this
Consider the significant art elements that are present in this artwork and
artwork
and describe them:
BALANCE
CONTRAST
EMPHASIS
HARMONY
GRADATION
LINE
RHYTHM
SHAPE
PROPORTION
VARIETY
MOVEMENT
UNITY
TEXTURE
DEPTH
COLOR
COMPOSITION
FORM
SPACE
VALUE
PATTERN
1. What objects do you
see?
2. Describe the texture of
the brushstrokes.
3. Are the colors neutral
or saturated?
4. How are dark and light
values used in this
painting?
5. What path do your
eyes take in this painting?
Umberto Boccioni
Still Life with Glass and Siphon 1914
Step 2: Analysis
In this step, consider the most significant art principles
that were used in the artwork. Describe how the artist
used them to organize the elements.
BALANCE
EMPHASIS
HARMONY
GRADATION
RHYTHM
PROPORTION
CONTRAST
VARIETY
MOVEMENT
UNITY
DEPTH
COMPOSITION
1. How is movement
created in this print?
2. Can you find repeating
shapes that create
rhythm?
3. Does the size of
objects describe depth in
this image? How?
4. Is this print balanced?
Why or why not?
5. Do the tones in this
print create high or low
contrast?
Katsushita Hokusai The Waterfall where Yoshitsune Washed his Horse 1832
Step 3: Interpretation
Based on what learned so far about the artwork, what do
you think the artist was trying to say?
Why did this artist create this artwork?
What do you think it means?
What feelings do you have when looking at this artwork?
Do you think there are things in the artwork that
represent other things- symbols?
1. What do you think the
artist is trying to say?
2. What do you think it
means?
3. What feelings does this
work give you?
4. Do you see symbols
that might represent
something important?
Ida Applebroog
Mother I am Ill
1993
Step 4: Judgment
Do you like this artwork?
Do you think it is an important artwork?
Would you display this artwork in your home?
Does this belong in a museum?
Explain why you feel the way you do about this
artwork based on what you have learned about it.
1. Do you like this
artwork?
2. Do you think it is a
good artwork?
3. Would you display this
in your home?
4. Is this artwork good
enough to put in a
museum?
5. Why do you feel this
way?
Friedensreich Hundertwasser
The 30 Day Fax Picture
1994
1. Describe
2. Analyze
3. Interpret
4. Judge
5. Additional Comments
Ellen Gallagher
Millie Christine from “Deluxe”
2004-2005
1. Describe
2. Analyze
3. Interpret
4. Judge
5. Additional Comments
Gianlorenzo Bernini
Apollo and Daphne
1622-25
1. Describe
2. Analyze
3. Interpret
4. Judge
5. Additional Comments
Ingres Josephine-Eleonore-Marie-Pauline de Galard de Brassac de Bearn 1853
1. Describe
2. Analyze
3. Interpret
4. Judge
5. Additional Comments
Fred Wilson
Safe House II (Speak of Me as I Am)
2003
1. Describe
2. Analyze
3. Interpret
4. Judge
5. Additional Comments
Frida Kahlo
The Two Fridas
1939
1. Describe
2. Analyze
3. Interpret
4. Judge
5. Additional Comments
Cai Guo-Qiang
Inopportune:State Two
2004
1. Describe
2. Analyze
3. Interpret
4. Judge
5. Additional Comments
Gustave Caillebotte
The Garden at Petit Gennevilliers in Winter
1894
1. Describe
2. Analyze
3. Interpret
4. Judge
5. Additional Comments
Piet Mondrian
Broadway Boogie Woogie
1942-1943
1. Describe
2. Analyze
3. Interpret
4. Judge
5. Additional Comments
Jaques-Louis David
Death of Marat
1793
1. Describe
2. Analyze
3. Interpret
4. Judge
5. Additional Comments
Richard Diebenkorn
Ocean Park No.54
1972