Art Criticism
Description
-- Can you identify the objects in the artwork? How many people are in the
artwork and what are they doing? Simply, what do you see in the work? Collect
facts and clues only. Describe everything you see in the work.
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Examples:
There are 3 puppies
drinking out of a bowl or a pan.
Three blue goblets are
beside 3 round fruits.
More fruit is arranged on
a cloth next to a bowl containing a pear.
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Gauguin, Paul
Still Life with Three
Puppies
1888
Oil on canvas
34 3/4 x 24 5/8 in. (88 x
62.5 cm)
The Museum of Modern Art, New York
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[Open a new window by going to File/ New /
Window in Internet Explorer and click on the picture. A page will open in
which you can explore the painting and the artist more carefully.] |
Analysis
-- What elements do you think dominate the work? How is the work arranged?
Examples:
The artist has created a sense
of harmony by using lots of curving shapes and lines to draw the puppies, fruit
and dishes.
The objects in the painting
seem to stand out against the background because the values are so much darker.
Back to
Image
Interpretation -- Based on
the clues that you collected in your description, what do you think this
painting or sculpture is about? Explain what ideas, moods, emotions, stories
you think the artwork communicates.
Examples:
This seems to be a cheery
little painting to me because puppies are so cute and sweet and someone has let
them eat on the table.
I think that the artist likes
fruit and animals because he has painted them in such a nice way.
Judgement
-- Do you think that this work is successful, and why? What kinds of reasons
can you give for your idea of why this is a good or bad art work?
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