Your assignment for the day:• In the ArtTalk book on your desk, find the section on art

criticism.• The topic for this new section of notes is “Art Criticism

and Aesthetics”• Read about and summarize the 4 steps of art criticism• Read about and define aesthetics• Explain the 3 qualities of aesthetics• You have 20 minutes to finish this assignment before we

discuss as a class

Art Criticism

Make sure you have your art criticism notes out.

Georges Seurat(1884-1886) A Sunday on La Grande JatteOil on canvas207.5 × 308.1 cm (81.7 × 121.3 in)

Art CriticismGeorges Seurat (1884-1886) A Sunday on La Grande JatteOil on canvas207.5 × 308.1 cm (81.7 × 121.3 in) Step 1 - Description

• Keep it simple – many make the mistake of analyzing and interpreting the work in this step

• Title/artist/date/size/media/process/where (if known)

• Subject/objects• Any info that you may know

about the artist

Step 1 - Description• The painting shows a group of people

standing around a beach or lake. The clothes that the people are wearing are an older style. The skirts the women are wearing are large, and some of the men are wearing top hats. A man is sitting on the front left side wearing a baseball hat and a sleeveless shirt. There is a woman and a man on the right side, who are standing in the shade, with some animals around them, including a dog. There are a number of people sitting around and looking at the water. Some of the women have umbrellas, although it is not raining. Some of the people are in the shade.

Art CriticismGeorges Seurat (1884-1886) A Sunday on La Grande JatteOil on canvas207.5 × 308.1 cm (81.7 × 121.3 in) Step 2 - Analysis

• Based upon the MAIN elements/principles used:– Give a description of how

those elements/principles are being used.

– Give insight on why you think the artist used them in the manner you described above

Step 2 - Analysis• The painting shows a contrast of

light and dark colors. The artist creates space by having the beach and people go back in the painting. There are no real lines in the painting because it is painted in a pointillist style. The artist shows texture in the dresses and on the grass.

• The artist uses different color values for the clothes and on the grass to show the difference between the shaded area and sunny area. The painting shows a realistic scene.

Art CriticismGeorges Seurat (1884-1886) A Sunday on La Grande JatteOil on canvas207.5 × 308.1 cm (81.7 × 121.3 in) Step 3 - Interpretation

• Describe what you think is the mood and/or meaning (both would be best, but only one, if well stated, will suffice)

• DO NOT state that there is no mood or meaning, you’re either being lazy or simply have no soul.

Step 3 - Interpretation• I think that the painting is

about people gathering around outside on a nice day and looking at the water. Maybe they are all there on a weekend day. There are lots of people in the picture, some are sitting down and maybe having a picnic. There are some boats in the distance on the water and maybe the they are watching a boat race.

Art CriticismGeorges Seurat (1884-1886) A Sunday on La Grande JatteOil on canvas207.5 × 308.1 cm (81.7 × 121.3 in) Step 4 - Judgement

• Give your opinion based on the three qualities of aesthetics

1. Literal – basically can you tell what it is and are objects “correctly” represented

2. Formal – are the elements/principles you’ve discussed used well

3. Emotional – are you satisfied with the emotional response you have to the art

Step 4 - Judgment• I think that this is a good

painting because the artist uses a different style to create the image and uses a lot of different colors. The contrast between the shaded area and the light area shows that it is a sunny day. The artist uses different colors and values, and creates a unique texture through his style of painting.

Art criticism outlining• Description

– Title– Artist– Date– Size– Media/process– Subject/objects– Extra artist/genre info (if you have any)

• Analysis– Describe how you see elements/principles used (just color for now)– Describe why you think they are used that way

• Interpretation– What is the mood/meaning– Why do you feel that way

• Judgment– Literal – do you like how the subject/objects are shown?

• Why?– Formal – do you like how the elements/principles from step 2 are used?

• Why?– Emotional - do you like the mood/meaning from step 3?

• Why?

Follow all steps and be descriptive:

Claude MonetFlowering Garden at

Sainte-Adressec. 1866

Oil on canvas65 × 54 cm