Department of Philosophy

and Humanities, CASS, MSU-IIT

Understanding Art
Criticism
& Aesthetics
[Module 4]

BOYLIE A. SARCINA
Humanities Faculty
ART CRITICISM
t es t i n g t he
i f y i n g o r
ce s s o f v er k s t o
o d o r p ro m ar t w o r
m e t h ti o n fr o
I t is t h e t s a n d i n fo rm a
t h e m .
ere d fa c n t s a b o u t
g a t h t j u d gm e
i n t el li g e n
m a k e
This is to help the public in the understanding,
appreciation, and selection of artworks through
its technique, merit and originality and artist’s
personality.
Joan Mitchell. August, Rue Daguerre. 1957
Oil on canvas. 208.3x175.3 cm (82x69”)
DESCRIPTION

It means gathering information

of what one sees.
 
The size of the work and the media used.

The subject illustrated in the work.

The elements of art used in the work.

ANALYSIS
When analyzing a work of art, the critic
focuses on its composition. Composition
is the way the art principles are used to
organize the art elements.

Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The Wedding Dance. 1566

Tempera on panel. 119.4 x157.5 cm (47x62”)
 INTERPRETATI
When interpreting a work of art, the critic is
ON
concerned with a work’s content, the feelings,
moods, and ideas expressed by an artwork.

M E NT
JUDG
Judging a work of art means making a decision about its
success or lack of success. This decision depends on the
aesthetic view held by the person making the judgment.
AESTHETIC VIEWS
They are ideas or schools of thought on what is most important in judging
works of art.

COMPOSITION VIEW
SUBJECT VIEW
A successful artwork must use the elements and
A successful artwork must have a subject that
is easy to identify. principles to achieve overall unity. A critic using
this aesthetic view focuses on an artwork’s
formal properties, or the organization of the
elements of art by the principles of art.
CONTENT
VIEW
A successful artwork must effectively
communicate an idea, feeling, or mood to
viewers.
 Mindanao State
ILIGAN
INSTITUTEUniversity
OF TECHNOLGOY

Thank you.