OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson we are expected to:

Enumerate the steps on how to critique an artwork;

understand the importance of each steps; and

apply each step in evaluating an artwork.

E C I T U Q R I
C R I T I QUE
I R C T I C
C R I T I C
P E S I D I C T R O N
D E S C R I P T I O N
A S A I Y S L N
A N A L Y S I S
T N I O R P R E N A T I E T

I N T E R P R E T A T I ON
J D T U E M E N G
J UDG EME N T
How to Critique Artwork

An art critique is a detailed analysis and evaluation

of a work of art
Four Parts
•Describing the Work
•Analyzing the Work
•Interpreting the Work
•Judging the Work
 DESCRIBING
• 1. Gather basic information about the work
• 2. Describe what you see
• 3. Discuss the elements of the work
• 4. Describe the use of line
• 5. Talk about how color is used in the work.
• 6. Describe the use of space in the work.
• 7. Describe the use of light in the work
• 8. Make note of the way shape is used in the work.
 1. Gather basic information about the work
•Title of the work
•Artist’s name
•When the piece was created
•Where it was made
•The types of media used to
create the work(e.g., oil paint
on canvas)
•The exact size of the work
 2. Describe what you see
Your description should include
things like the form and scale of
the work. If the art depicts figures
or objects rather than abstract
shapes, describe what is
represented.

EXAMPLE: “This is a small-scale portrait

painting of a young woman, shown from the
mid-torso up, against a dark background.
She is clasping her hands in front of her
chest and looking up and slightly to the
viewer’s right. She wears a pink dress, and
a long veil that falls behind her head.”
 3. Discuss the elements of the work
Talk about the way the art uses
these five basic elements of art and
design: line, color, space, light, and
shape.
4. Describe the use of line
DIFFERENT TYPES OF LINES can create
different moods or effects. For example:
•Curved lines can create a calming effect,
while jagged lines might feel harsher, or
create a sense of energy.
•Rough, sketchy lines create a sense of
movement and freedom, while smooth, solid
lines feel more still and carefully planned.
•A line of sight or action might be suggested
by the arrangement of figures and objects
within a scene. For example, a group of
figures all looking or pointing the same way
can create an implied line that draws your eye
through the work in a particular direction.
 5. Talk about how color is used in the work.

•Make note of characteristics like

hue (red, green, blue, etc.), value
(lightness or darkness), and
intensity. Look at overall color
schemes, and think about how the
colors work together.
•For example, do the colors clash,
or are they harmonious? Does the
work use a variety of colors, or is it
monochromatic (all shades of
blue, for example)?
 6. Describe the use of space in the work.
•“Space” refers to the areas around
and between objects in a work.
When talking about space, focus on
things like depth and perspective,
overlapping of objects, and the use
of empty space versus space
crowded with details. If you are
describing a two-dimensional work of
art, like a painting, talk about whether
or not the work creates the illusion of
three-dimensional space and depth.
 7. Describe the use of light in the work

•Light in a work of art can look

warm or cool, bright or dim,
natural or artificial. Take a little
time to talk about the role of light
and shadow in the work. If
you’re talking about a two-
dimensional work, like a
painting, your focus might be on
how the artist creates the illusion
of light.
8. Make note of the way shape is used in the work.

•Are the shapes in

the work geometric,
with straight lines
and perfect curves,
or are they more
natural? Is the work
dominated by any
one particular type of
shape, or do you see
a variety of different
shapes?
Activity no. 1

DESCRIBING
Why is it important for you to learn about the
artwork's background?
.
• So you can compare it to other art from similar backgrounds.

• So you can better understand it.

• So you know what terms to use when referring to the piece.

• So you can talk to experts about the work

NEXT
 ANALYZING
• 1. Discuss how the work uses the principles of composition

• 2. Identify the point(s) of focus of the work.

• 3. Look for themes in the work.

1. Discuss how the work uses the principles of composition
For example:
•Balance: How do the colors, shapes, and textures in the
piece work together? Do they create a balanced or
harmonious effect, or is the piece imbalanced in some way?
•Contrast: Does the work make use of contrasting colors,
textures, or lighting? Contrast can also be found in the use of
different shapes or contours, like jagged versus curved lines,
or geometric versus natural shapes.
•Movement: How does the work create a sense of movement?
Is your eye drawn through the composition in a particular
way?
•Proportion: Do the sizes of the different elements in the work
appear the way you would expect, or are they surprising? For
example, if the work shows a group of people, do any of the
figures look larger or smaller than they would in real life?
 2. Identify the point(s) of focus of the work.

• Most works of art have one or more

points that are designed catch your
attention and draw your eye. In a portrait,
this may be the face or eyes of the
subject. In a still-life, it could be a
centrally-placed or well-lit object. Try to
identify which parts of the work are
emphasized. Look at the work and make
note of which feature(s) jump out at you
right away, or keep drawing your eye back
to them.
 3. Look for themes in the work.
• Identify a few key themes, and discuss how the
artist used the elements of design (color, light,
space, shape, and line) to express these themes.
Themes might include things like: The use of a
color scheme to give the work a particular mood
or meaning. See, for example, the paintings of
Picasso’s Blue Period. Symbolism and religious or
mythological imagery. For example, look at the
use of figures and symbols from classical
mythology in Renaissance works like Botticelli’s
“Birth of Venus.”
• Repeating images or motifs within a work or
group of works. For a good example of this, look
at how plants and flowers are used in many of
the paintings of Frida Kahlo.
Activity no. 2

ANALYZING
When critiquing a piece of art, you will not find
any contrast between:

Colors
Lighting
Focuses

Contours
NEXT
 INTERPRETING
• 1. Try to identify the purpose of the work

• 2. Describe your own reaction to the work.

• 3. Back up your interpretation with examples.

 1. Try to identify the purpose of the work

In other words, what do you think

the artist was trying to say with the
work? Why did they create the
work? Try to summarize the
overall meaning of the work, as
you see it.
 2. Describe your own reaction to the work.
• Now it’s time to get a little more
subjective. Think about how you feel
while looking at the work. What do you
think is the overall mood of the work?
Does it remind you of anything (ideas,
experiences, other works of art)? Use
expressive language to talk about your
reaction to the work. For example, is the
mood of the work sad? Hopeful?
Peaceful? Would you describe the work
as beautiful, or ugly?
 3. Back up your interpretation with examples.
• Use examples from your description and
analysis of the work to explain why you
think and feel the way you do about the
piece. For example, “I believe that James
Sant’s portrait of a young bride is
intended to give a sense of the bride’s
spiritual devotion. This is indicated by the
line of the composition, which draws the
viewer’s eye upward, following the
upward gaze of the subject. It is also
suggested by warm light, coming from a
source somewhere above the young
woman.”
Activity no. 3

INTERPRETATION
What might you say about the work at this stage?
• "In the 18th century, this style of artwork was very heavily influenced by the traditional
biblical scenes of the New Testament."

• "This style is cool and kinda hippy-dippy, and I like that about it."

• This piece evokes a strong visceral sadness in the viewer, a sense of longing,
perhaps for something we haven't yet lost."

• "On Monday, the 29th, this 19th century western exploration into Caribbean
cultures burst onto the city's art scene for the first time in nearly two decades."

NEXT
 JUDGEMENT
• 1. Decide whether you think the work is successful or not.

• 2.Explain how you are judging the work.

• 3. Summarize why you think the work is successful or

unsuccessful.
1. Decide whether you think the work is successful or
not.
•Your goal here isn’t necessarily to
decide whether the art is “good” or
“bad.” Instead, focus on whether you
think the work is “successful.” For
example, think about the following:
Do you think the work says what the
artist wanted it to say?
•Did the artist use their tools and
techniques well?
•Is the art original, or does it imitate
other works?
 2.Explain how you are judging the work.

Once you have decided on a few

aspects of the work to judge, clearly
state the focus of your evaluation.
For example, you might say that you
are judging the piece on how well
organized it is, how well done it is
technically, and how successfully it
portrays the intended mood or
themes.
 3. Summarize why you think the work is successful
or unsuccessful.
•In a few sentences, explain your
judgment of the work. Give specific
reasons for your judgment, using
your interpretation and analysis of
the work. For example, “I believe this
work is successful because the use
of light, shape, gesture, and line all
work together harmoniously to
portray the mood of the subject.”
Activity no. 4

JUDGEMENT
What kind of question can help you determine
if the work is "successful" or not?
• "Does the work please the viewer?"

• "Does the work reflect its background or culture?"

• "Is the piece as good as it can be?"

• "Does the piece say what the artist wanted it to?"

APPLICATION:
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

Prepared by: MARCELO G. SAKITING

Try again