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The Steps of Art Criticism

Summary Sheet

DescriptionA super-detailed inventory of all subject matter contained within the work.The step of Description focuses upon the NARRATIVE QUALITIES of the artwork, aswell as being a highly detailed verbalization of the visual object.

Formal AnalysisA detailed analysis of the artist's apparent development of composition, as well ashis/her use of media, tools, materials, and techniques in the "execution of the work.The step of Formal Analysis focuses upon the COMPOSITIONAL QUALITIES thatexist in the artwork.

InterpretationA personal statement of the meaning of the artwork, as perceived and supported by theviewer with evidence that comes from within the work of art alone. The student doingInterpretation should discover a "deeper meaning" to the artwork beyond the "surfacestory" that may already be apparent through Description. The step of Interpretationfocuses upon the INTERPRETIVE QUALITIES of the artwork, as well as themes andconcepts that the artist is, apparently, trying to send a message about.

JudgementA personal statement of the viewer's evaluation of the artwork, based upon his/herinvestigation of the above qualities contained in the artwork. The viewer must state andexplain the criteria that he/she has used to judge the work of art. Judgement vs.Preference?

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- .Section 3112

Ii,I in aList 3-10 Descriptive Words to UseFormal Analysis of Art

Valuedarklightmedium

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ELEMENTS OF ARTLineblurredbrokencontrolledcurveddiagonalfreehandfuzzyhorizontalinterruptedmeanderingruledshortstraightthickthinverticalwide

Spaceambiguousdeepflatnegative/positiveopenshallow

Principles of Artbalancecontrastemphasisharmonypatternrepetitionrhythmunityvariety

Drawn after Still-Life Violin and Music,1888, William Michael Harnett, The Metro-politan Museum of Art, New York City

Textureactualbumpycorrugatedflatfurrygooeyleatherypricklyroughsandyshinysimulatedsmoothsoftstickytackyvelvetywet

grayedmulticoloredmutedpalepolychromedprimarysaccharinesecondarysubduedsweetwarm

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~';::goTHEMES IN ART

adorationchildrencircuscityscapeearth, air, fire, and waterfarming festivalsgardensgriefhistoryhuntinglandscapelovemusicmythologynarrative of historic occasionsportraiture

, processionsreligionseascapestorytellingtheaterwar

Shape/Formamorphousbiomorphiccloseddistortedflatfree-formfull of spacesgeometricheavylightlinearmassivenebulousopenorganic

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Colorsbrashbrightcalmclearcooldullexcitinggarish

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MEDIA (MATERIALS)

Two-Dimensionalchalkcolored pencilconteegg temperafound materialsgouacheinkoilpastelpencilphotographprinttemperavine charcoalwatercolor

Three- Dimensionalbronzeclayfibersfound materialsmarblemetalmixed mediapapier-rnacheplasterstone

." wood

\. TECHNIQUE

'.architecturetbatik~carving

List 3-10 Continued

ceramicscollagecraftsglassblowingjewelry makingmetalworkmodelingmosaicspaintingphotographyprintmaking ,repoussesculptureweaving

STYLE OR PERIODabstractclassicalgenrehistoricalliterarynaivenarrativenonobjectiveprimitiverealisticromanticRenaissance

CHARACTERISTICS OfCLASSICAL ART

balancedcalmclean outlinesconservative

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controlledcooldecorousdetacheddignifiedelegantformalintellectualrationalserioussimplesymmetricaltraditionaltranquil

CHARACTERISTICS OfROMANTIC/EMOTIONALasymmetricalblurred outlinesconveys a mooddynamicemotionalexpressiveextreme emotionsman not at centermysteriousnature at centerotherworldlypersonal to the artistsadspiritualstrong diagonalsswirlingunrestrained

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