Your assignment for the day:
• In the ArtTalk book on your desk, find the section on
art criticism.
• The topic for this new section of notes is “Art Criticism
and Aesthetics”
• Read about and summarize the 4 steps of art criticism
• Read about and define aesthetics
• Explain the 3 qualities of aesthetics
• You have 20 minutes to finish this assignment before
we discuss as a class
Art Criticism
Make sure you have your art criticism
notes out.
Georges Seurat
(1884-1886)
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte
Oil on canvas
207.5 × 308.1 cm (81.7 × 121.3 in)
Art Criticism
Georges Seurat
(1884-1886)
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte
Oil on canvas
207.5 × 308.1 cm (81.7 × 121.3 in)
Step 1 - Description
• Keep it simple – many make
the mistake of analyzing and
interpreting the work in this
step
• Title/artist/date/size/media
/process/where (if known)
• Subject/objects
• Any info that you may know
about the artist
Step 1 - Description
• The painting shows a group of
people standing around a beach or
lake. The clothes that the people
are wearing are an older style. The
skirts the women are wearing are
large, and some of the men are
wearing top hats. A man is sitting
on the front left side wearing a
baseball hat and a sleeveless shirt.
There is a woman and a man on
the right side, who are standing in
the shade, with some animals
around them, including a
dog. There are a number of
people sitting around and looking
at the water. Some of the women
have umbrellas, although it is not
raining. Some of the people are in
the shade.
Georges Seurat
(1884-1886)
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte
Oil on canvas
207.5 × 308.1 cm (81.7 × 121.3 in)
Art Criticism
Step 2 - Analysis
• Based upon the MAIN
elements/principles used:
– Give a description of how
those elements/principles are
being used.
– Give insight on why you think
the artist used them in the
manner you described above
Step 2 - Analysis
• The painting shows
a contrast of light and dark
colors. The artist
creates space by having the
beach and people go back in
the painting. There are no
real lines in the painting
because it is painted in
a pointillist style. The artist
shows texture in the dresses
and on the grass.
• The artist uses different color
values for the clothes and on
the grass to show the difference
between the shaded area and
sunny area. The painting shows
a realistic scene.
Art Criticism
Georges Seurat
(1884-1886)
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte
Oil on canvas
207.5 × 308.1 cm (81.7 × 121.3 in)
Step 3 - Interpretation
• Describe what you think is
the mood and/or meaning
(both would be best, but
only one, if well stated, will
suffice)
• DO NOT state that there is
no mood or meaning,
you’re either being lazy or
simply have no soul.
Step 3 - Interpretation
• I think that the painting is
about people gathering
around outside on a nice day
and looking at the
water. Maybe they are all
there on a weekend
day. There are lots of people
in the picture, some are
sitting down and maybe
having a picnic. There are
some boats in the distance
on the water and maybe the
they are watching a boat
race.
Art Criticism
Georges Seurat
(1884-1886)
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte
Oil on canvas
207.5 × 308.1 cm (81.7 × 121.3 in)
Step 4 - Judgement
• Give your opinion based on
the three qualities of
aesthetics
1. Literal – basically can you tell
what it is and are objects
“correctly” represented
2. Formal – are the
elements/principles you’ve
discussed used well
3. Emotional – are you satisfied
with the emotional response
you have to the art
Step 4 - Judgment
• I think that this is a good
painting because the artist
uses a different style to
create the image and uses
a lot of different
colors. The contrast
between the shaded area
and the light area shows
that it is a sunny day. The
artist uses different colors
and values, and creates a
unique texture through his
style of painting.
Art criticism outlining
•
•
•
•
Description
– Title
– Artist
– Date
– Size
– Media/process
– Subject/objects
– Extra artist/genre info (if you have any)
Analysis
– Describe how you see elements/principles used (just color for now)
– Describe why you think they are used that way
Interpretation
– What is the mood/meaning
– Why do you feel that way
Judgment
– Literal – do you like how the subject/objects are shown?
• Why?
– Formal – do you like how the elements/principles from step 2 are used?
• Why?
– Emotional - do you like the mood/meaning from step 3?
• Why?
Follow all steps and be descriptive:
Claude Monet
Flowering Garden at
Sainte-Adresse
c. 1866
Oil on canvas
65 × 54 cm