Art Criticism 101
A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing an Art Critique
The origin of the word art is as many and diverse as its presented meanings. Some sources claim that it comes from the Aryan word ar, which means to join. Others believe it hails from the Greek terms arkiskein, which has a similar meaning, that is - to put together; and artizein, which means to prepare. Still others say it comes from the Latin word ars, which in turn means skill.
Art is one of the hardest things to define. It may be taken as an action, an object, or even and experience. Hence, people can only do as much as assume points to alleviate the problem of definition. Among the most popular of these “assumptions” about art and its meaning are the following:
- Art is an attempt to create a pleasing form
- Art is an enjoyment of form
- Art is a human-made object demanding to be experienced aesthetically
- Art is a power to create a pre-conceived result
- Art is an expression; not a skill nor a talent
- Art is a unity fo form and meaning
- Art is a super-channel of communication
- Art is an experience
Basic Aspects in the Study of Art
There are two important aspects to be remembered in the study of art: 1) that it has specificity and 2)
it is always historically and culturally situated.
The initial premise only means that art has a language of its own, its elements, techniques, and media, which define it as a unique area of human knowledge. The second implies that while it is a body that has somewhat “self-rule”, it also blends with wherever it is situated, historically (time and space aspect) and socially, pertaining to the economic and political forces which may also take effect.
The Practical Approach
The initial phase of art criticism starts with the fundamentals of art. This methodology utilizes the senses to collect the basic information of a work, which is enumerated below.
- Title of the work. The title brings a literary dimension to the work. Whether it is a phrase or simply a word, the content of the title links the visual with the literary. More often than not, the title affects the viewer’s impression of the work and even of the artist.
- Name of artist. As what has been previously said, art is historically and culturally situated. This also why most times, a clear idea of the artist’s background is essential in art interpretation. Individual factors as geographical location, social situation, and personal influences of the artist may help illuminate the work’s meaning especially when it is far hidden in metaphor.
- Medium and techniques. This aspect probably requires the most perspective. Materials and techniques convey meaning; hence, they must not clash with the original message of the work. It is important to consider the impact of the artistic play in the work, whether the artist chose to be conventional or out-of-the-box with the choice of media or the mix of it. The viewer must also be aware of the work being a product of a process, which involves both media and artist technique. Also, even as “beginners”, I helps that the art critic has an idea (even just the slightest) about the limitations of these materials and techniques. This knowledge will augment appreciation or disapproval of the work’s value.
- Dimensions and format. The scale of the work usually contributes not only to the work’s meaning but also to its overall impact. The size of the work is correlated with the audience it tries to attract, like street murals or enormous academy paintings. The message it tries to convey also goes hand in hand with the work’s scale. The format also signifies the relationship of the work’s parts to each other. Whether the canvas is rectangular, or the work is a montage of uneven pieces, or the work is an entire structure – the format is a symbolic aspect to be considered.
- Date of work. This helps the viewer situate the work into which time period it belongs and thus, subsequently allows the viewer to identify and relate the objects or characters with the issues, fashion modes, among others, of that time. Also, information as to what artistic era (early, middle, late) the artist and his/her work belong to.
Final Insight
Art criticism, essentially, is constructed by formulating reactions and meanings toward a certain visual work. Interpreting art is analogous to reading a literary piece, only with the text represented in symbols (people, place, objects). What is important is the recognition of the interrelationship of the different aspects of the work and the collective meaning they try to convey.
The points presented in this article are the fundamentals of constructing an art critique. For a deeper evaluation, the three major planes of analysis (semiotic, iconic, thematic) must be considered. These are discussed in the follow-up article: artsociety.suite101.com/article.cfm/three_levels_of_art_analysis.
Reference:
- Guillermo, Alice. "Art Criticism." Humanities II: Art, Man, and Society.
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