What is Art?A look at how to view art as a critic

What is Art?

Just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, some artwork speaks to some people and not others. Does this mean that because you don’t like the style, media, or subject of an artwork that is shouldn’t be considered art? What does something have to have or be to be considered “art”? How is art defined? What is your stance on the matter?

Art Styles, Media, and

Subject Matter

We may study an art movement that you don’t understand or that you think is too simple or silly. Does this mean that it doesn’t count as art?

Jackson Pollock- “Lavender Mist”

Art Styles, Media, and Subject Matter

We may study artworks that you think are ugly just because of what the artist used to create the piece. Does this mean it isn’t art?

Marcel Duchamp- “Fountain”

Art Styles, Media, and Subject Matter

We may study artwork that you don’t like to look at because it offends or disturbs you. Or maybe it seems boring or doesn’t interest you. Does this mean it doesn’t count as art?

“Saturn Devouring One of his Children”- Goya

A New Outlook

To be a successful art critic, you must ask yourself these questions and be willing to open your mind to what you define as “art.” For years, artists have been pushing the boundaries of what the art world considered acceptable. Although it is hard to change your personal tastes and opinion, you have to learn to respect and appreciate the art world as a whole and seek to understand where the artist is coming from and what their purpose may be, even if it doesn’t interest you. Will you be the next artist to change people’s minds about art?

Aesthetics

The word “aesthetic”, according to wikipedia.com, “is commonly known as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste.[1] More broadly, scholars in the field define aesthetics as "critical reflection on art, culture and nature."[2][3] Aesthetics is a subdiscipline of axiology, a branch of philosophy, and is closely associated with the philosophy of art.[4] Aesthetics studies new ways of seeing and of perceiving the world.[5]”

In other words, what is beauty or what is pleasing to the eye.

The DAIJ Technique

One way to fairly judge an artwork is to apply proven techniques, or steps to forming your opinion that involve your analysis or asking yourself questions to better understand the artwork, past first glance.

D- descriptionA- analysis I- Interpretation J- judgment

Step 1- Description

During this step, list obvious FACTS about the artwork from first glance (no assumptions or opinions allowed):

Title Artist Dimensions Media Subject matter Placement of objects within the

picture plane

Step 2- Analysis

Observe and make note of art elements or specifics about the artwork (still no assumptions or opinions):

Colors Shapes Lines Environment Number of objects/people Description of objects/people

Step 3- Interpretation

This is the step where you get to begin forming an opinion by asking questions about the clues you have already gathered:

Why did the artist use certain elements? Is there a mood to the piece?

Are there emotions present? Actions present? Relationships present between objects/people?

Is there a theme to the piece based on the setting or actions involved? What do you think is the purpose of the piece?

Step 4- Judgment

Based on your collected information: Does the piece serve its purpose? Did the artist use the art elements

successfully? Do you enjoy or understand the

piece? Did the artist effectively

communicate through the piece? Is this art???

Practice!

Description-

“Christina’s World”- Andrew Wyeth 1948 Tempera on gessoed panel Female in pink dress sitting in field of

grass in bottom left corner, 2 large buildings and 2 small buildings on the horizon (upper right corner)

Analysis-

Grass appears dry due to neutral colors Lines in top right corner leading towards house Line marking edge of long grass- creates movement

towards separate building The girl is alone and facing away from the viewer.

Her legs and arms are bent. Three of the buildings are rectangular and clumped

together, the other is spaced apart to balance the piece.

There is intense value on the main building/house and in the girl’s hair

There is a large distance between the girl and the house

Interpretation-

Is the girl hurt? Is she trying to make it home? Is she crawling? Why can’t we see her face? The mood of the piece seems lonely, empty, or

forlorn. She seems so far away from her destination and the colors seem dull and empty. The dead, dry environment looks uncomfortable. She seems swallowed up by her surroundings. I feel sorry for her that she has so far to go. The rural feel of the piece makes you think that no one can hear her cry for help.

Judgment-

I think the neutral colors added to the feeling of loneliness and despair. There is evidence of balance in the shapes and values in the work. Also there are lines that create movement so that you look at the entire piece. The grass is detailed and helps the piece not feel flat and gives it a definite rural environment. Her angles of her body help to give the sense of a struggle. The fact that she isn’t facing the viewer helps bring us in to her level and experience what she is experiencing. The work is aesthetically pleasing and retained my attention. Therefore, I think this piece is effective and should be considered “art.”

Conclusion

As long as you have followed the steps and collected evidence, there is no real right or wrong answers. The more you practice this technique, the more your eyes will be opened to new artworks. This will make seemingly pointless works suddenly have possible moods or meaning. Overall, being slow to judge the work helps you try to step in the artist’s shoes and try to understand what he/she was thinking when they created the work.