Art Criticism

Overview

Art criticism is a structured way of judging artworks; Feldman’s model moves through description, analysis, interpretation and judgement.

Key points

• Edmund Feldman’s four steps: description, analysis, interpretation, judgement.
• Formalist theory judges by elements and principles.
• Expressive (emotionalist) theory judges by feelings conveyed.
• Imitationalist (mimetic) theory judges by realistic representation.
• Instrumentalist (functional) theory judges by purpose or message.
• Judgements must be supported by evidence from the work.

Explanation

• Critical vocabulary improves precision.
• Different theories can rate the same work differently.
• Peer critique teaches constructive feedback.
• Criticism should be respectful and specific.
• Written critiques develop language skills.

Step by step

1. Identify the art concept, medium or movement asked.
2. Recall the definition, artist, period or technique.
3. Choose the option that matches the visual or pedagogical principle.

Examples

• Listing colours and shapes in a painting → description.
• Explaining how contrast creates focus → analysis.
• Praising a poster for changing behaviour → instrumentalist judgement.

Traps and advanced points

• Trap: Jumping to judgement.
• Trap: Judgement without evidence.
• Trap: Mixing theories.

Quick revision

• Feldman: D-A-I-J.
• Formalist, expressive, mimetic, functional.
• Evidence-based judgement.

Practice MCQs

1. Art criticism that focuses only on line, colour, shape and composition is

   1. formal analysis
   2. biographical criticism
   3. market valuation
   4. iconoclasm

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   Answer: (a) formal analysis. It studies the visual elements and their arrangement.

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2. A good art critique should be

   1. negative by default
   2. based only on personal liking
   3. about the artist's private life
   4. supported by evidence from the artwork

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   Answer: (d) supported by evidence from the artwork. Reasons make judgement fair.

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3. An art critic who values a work mainly for how realistically it shows its subject follows

   1. emotionalism
   2. formalism
   3. imitationalism
   4. instrumentalism

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   Answer: (c) imitationalism. These are aesthetic theories used in criticism.

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4. Judging an artwork mainly by its design qualities, such as composition and colour, is

   1. emotionalism
   2. imitationalism
   3. formalism
   4. functionalism only

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   Answer: (c) formalism. Subject matter matters less here.

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5. Judging an artwork mainly by the feelings and mood it expresses is

   1. realism only
   2. formalism
   3. imitationalism
   4. emotionalism (expressionism)

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   Answer: (d) emotionalism (expressionism). Strong communication of emotion is valued.

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6. Criticism that relates an artwork to the artist's society and period is

   1. formal analysis only
   2. contextual criticism
   3. technical drawing
   4. restoration

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   Answer: (b) contextual criticism. It considers history and purpose.

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More topics in this chapter

• Folk Art
• Art Appreciation
• Aesthetics
• Art Education Pedagogy
• Child Art Development