Art Critique and Humpty Dumpty

One critic's opinion:

Critic's notebook: Private collections should stay in the living room - with their owner's ego
Vanity exhibitions - which put the focus on the shopper and not the art - have no place in museums.
from: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-knight-notebook-20101010,0,4937154.story

"Why do art museums present vanity exhibitions? Packing up paintings and sculptures from a private collector's living room and hauling them over to the museum's public galleries for a temporary display is about as low-grade a curatorial enterprise as can be imagined. The vision required is limited, if not nonexistent.

The visitor experience is rarely satisfying. At a vanity show, exploring an artist's specific talents or a group of artists' larger cultural meaning is secondary. Focus is shifted to the collector's aptitude. The leading question viewers debate is simply: How skillful has this shopper been? Did he buy great things? Did he assemble them in interesting ways? What will become of the collection? Personal consumption becomes the primary issue."

A bust of Francois-Henri de Montmorency, Duke of Luxembourg, by sculptor Jan Pieter van Baurscheit I is part of the "Eye for the Sensual: Selections from the Resnick collection," one of a trio of exhibits featured at the new Resnick Pavilion at the Los Angeles County Museum of Modern Art in Los Angeles.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

A Different Opinion

Art & Critique
from: http://artandcritique.com/

Nicolas Poussin: Et In Arcadia Ego (Arcadian Shepherds)

Et In Arcadia Ego (hanging in Louvre Museum, Paris) must be one of Poussin's most famous paintings. The main reason for this renown, according to critics (read Wikipedia article on Et In Arcadia Ego), lies in this piece being a visual representation of the art of painting, no less. Though this interpretation might seem remote, and  self-referential, it becomes clearer upon closer examination.


Poussin painted two versions, the one below achieving the status it enjoys today: it depicts three shepherds and a woman gathered around a sarcophagus, engaged in mourning, reading, discussing, and contemplating the lapidary vision.



Arcadian Shepherds, circa 1650

Nicolas Poussin

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How to Become an Art Critic
from: http://www.ehow.com/how_2068148_become-art-critic.html

"Art critics and artists often have a love-hate relationship. The artist often struggles to make others see his vision and the art critic is often in a constant state of critique. The art critic also possesses reason and understanding, having a vast knowledge of art and the many media. Use these steps to learn more about the role of the art critic and how to become an art critic.

Instructions

1. Study art. If you are already interested in the art world, then continue to emerge yourself into it. If you are not, then get involved. Visit exhibits, interview unknown or semi-known artists and read art publications.
2. Think about the area of art criticism in which you would like to work. Art critics often write for national and metro newspapers or publications about the art world, or they publish books on areas of art.
3. Meet an art critic and ask about his career. Find out why, how and when he became an art critic. Ask what he recommends for getting into the business.
4. Make a list of possible articles to write. This could be comprised of a list of artists you are interested in, works you have seen or media with which you are familiar.
5. Contact magazines or local newspapers for writer's guidelines and expectations of art critics. Be polite and professional, not pushy or demanding. Remember, you are trying to establish a name, and editors will remember a negative impression even more than a positive one.
6. Continue seeing exhibits and writing articles. Writing is not an easy profession in any area, but perseverance and constant learning can create a successful writing career."

How to Be an Art Critic
Artist Diane Loving Gives Tips on Becoming More Expert About Art

Jan 20, 2008 Alina Bradford
from: http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-be-an-art-critic-a42221

"Guest artist Diane Loving gives her four-step plan to go from being an "armchair art critic" to a knowledgeable art connoisseur.

"No one wants to sound uneducated, especially when it comes to such an elegant subject as fine art. Perhaps that's why many conversations that take place in an art gallery or at an art museum are spoken in hushed tones," says artist, art connoisseur, and Chair of general studies at Brown Mackie College in Tucson, Diane Loving. Loving believes that everyone can be a respected art critic, with a little help from her four-step process to, "transform the casual 'armchair art critic' into a confident art connoisseur."

All artists should be well versed in the skill of art critique. Though the steps are simple, they produce much thought over a piece of art, producing well thought out deductions about the piece. This process should be used when critiquing your pieces or someone else's.

Loving's 4-Step Process:
Step 1: Say What You See

Describing the artwork is key. In order to do that, you must really look at the piece, and notice as many details as you can so you can describe them. Remember, this is not a race! Be quiet and get intimate with the work. The more details you pick out, the easier it will be to, well, say what you see.
Step 2: Analyze and Synthesize

Analysis involves systematically taking the piece apart like a jigsaw puzzle, and noticing the elements that make up the piece. Are there colors that please you? Lines that excite you? Notice the play of shapes or patterns. Is the piece balanced? What is the focal point? When you've analyzed the details, synthesize them (put the pieces back together) and see how the individual elements have affected the whole of the composition.

Step 3: The Courage of Interpretation

What do you think is going on in the painting? What do you think the artist was trying to say to you as an individual? Remember, you can't be wrong if you make simple "I" statements, such as "I'm agitated by the overuse of bold colors," or "This landscape reminds me of a

How to Critique and Write about Art

from: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:R2Lj57ML6jgJ:clackhi.nclack.k12.or.us/~edgintonwWeb/page%2520files/Critiquing_Writing%2520about%2520art.htm+art+critique&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

"The following steps-description, analysis, interpretation and evaluation- are the steps in a formal critique. It is called the Feldman method. It is an established critique method that has been used by students and professionals alike for over 50 years.

Please respond to the following sections in paragraph form, using complete sentences. Use the questions provided as a guide to provide you with information for your paragraphs.

Describe

This stage is like taking inventory. You want to come up with a list of everything you see in the work. Stick to the facts. Imagine that you are describing the artwork to someone over the telephone.

List

Name of artist, title of work, and gallery or location of artwork.

If this is an in-class critique of your own or another student's work, simply list your own or their name. For example, "This is a critique of my self-portrait" or "This is a critique of Art See's self-portrait."

Note First Impression

Make a note of your first spontaneous reaction to the artwork. By the end of the process you may understand your first impression better or you may even change you mind. There are no wrong answers.

Analyze

Try to figure out what the artist has done to achieve certain effects. You should refer to your first impressions and try to explain how the artwork achieves that reaction.

Q. Use the vocabulary you learned in class. For example, if you're looking at a chain-link graphic, you learned reversals, transparency, complementary or analogous color, etc.

Q. How are the elements of art (color, shape, line, texture, space, form, value) and the principles of design (balance, contrast, emphasis, movement/rhythm, unity, variety) used in this artwork?

Q. What do you notice about the artist's choice of materials?

Q. What grabs your attention in the work? Refer to your first impression.

Q. Do you see any relationship to the things you listed during the description stage?

Interpret

Try to figure out what the artwork is about. Your own perspectives, associations and experiences meet with "the evidence" found in the work of art. All art works are about something. Some art works are about color, their subject matter, and social or cultural issues. Some art works are very accessible - that is, relatively easy for the viewer to understand what the artist was doing. Other works are highly intellectual, and might not be as easy for us to readily know what the artist was thinking about.

Q. What is the theme or subject of the work? What mood or emotions does the artwork communicate?

Q. What is the work about; what so you think it means?

Q. Why do you think that artist created this work?

Q. What do you think the artist's view of the world is?

Evaluate

This is a culminating and reflecting activity. You need to come to some conclusions about the artwork based on all the information you have gathered and on your interpretations.

Q. Have your thoughts or feelings about the artwork changed since your first impression? If so, how? What made you change your mind?

Q. If not, can you now explain your first reaction to the work?

Q. What have you seen or learned from this work that you might apply to your own art work or your own thinking?"

All The MUSEUM Squidoo Lens - A Different View