1. For this activity, choose one of the websites listed below and find a piece of art that speaks to you. It might be a piece that you really enjoy. On the other hand, it can be an interesting exercise to critique a work that you don’t care for.
Smithsonian American Art Museum--Online Exhibitions
National Gallery of Art--Exhibitions
Princeton University Art Museum--Online Exhibitions
2. In a Word Document, provide an image of the art and the link to the website where you found it.
3. Once you have a selected a work of art, write a critique that covers the following:
Description: Be sure to include basic information, such as the name of the artist and when the piece was created, as well as a basic description of the work of art.
Analysis: A description of how the principles of art, including shape, color, texture, line, and space, are used in the art.
Interpretation: This is the artist’s intention or meaning. What is the artist using the work of art to show?
Judgment: This is where you get to give your opinion of the piece. Remember, it isn’t just whether or not you think that the painting is good but also how well the artist achieved his or her goals in the other categories.
Conclusion: End with a brief paragraph explaining how critiquing a work of art changes how you look at it. What did you learn by working through the steps that an art critic does?
Be sure to bring in examples from the art to illustrate your points. For instance, if the artist uses color well, be sure to point out where in the painting or photograph the best use of color can be found. Art critics ponder every detail, so make sure that you give the work of art that you choose a very thorough examination.