WEEK 5—BALANCED/ OBJECTIVE REVIEW OR CRITIQUE PAPER

A. What is balanced/objective review or criticism?

It is a system of interpreting, judging, and assessing a person, thing, or any work of art not
influenced by feelings or opinions in considering and presenting facts. It is a systematic way of
considering the truthfulness of a piece of work.

B. To have balanced/objective review of any piece of work, the following are considered:
1. Description. Pure description of the object, piece of work, art, event, etc. It answers the questions:
a. artwork - "What do you see?" (description constitutes form of art, medium, size and scale,
elements or general shapes, color, texture of surface, and context of object).
b. piece of writing - "What do you see?" (form, structure, choice of words, length, genre, etc)
2. Analysis. Determining what the features suggest and deciding why the artist or writers used such
features to convey specific ideas. It answers the questions:
a. artwork - "How did the artist do it?"
b. piece of writing-"How did the writer write it?"
The analysis constitutes the following: determination of subject matter, analysis of the principles
of design or composition, use of symbol and other elements, portrayal of movement and how it is
achieved, effect of particular medium, relationships of each part of the composition to the whole and to
each other part, and reaction to object.
3. Interpretation. Establishing the broader context for this type of art. It answers the questions:
a. artwork - "Why did the artist create it and what does it mean?
b. piece of writing - "Why did the write create it and what does it mean?
Remember: you shouldn’t make your interpretation too arbitrary! Provide evidence and point out what
exactly influenced your understanding of the artwork.
Here are the elements that you can include in your interpretation:
• How does this art object make you feel?
• What do you think of when you’re looking at the artwork?
• What did the artist want to tell you as a viewer?
• What do you think about the title of the work? Does it influence your interpretation?
• If you can’t understand a painting or a sculpture, don’t hurry to give a negative response to it. Think
of other critics who have provided a positive evaluation of the examined artwork. It doesn’t mean
you shouldn’t have your opinion! All you need is to find a good way to express it.
E.g., in this painting, the artist wanted to show us the king’s personality and achievements.
The interpretation constitutes: (a) Main idea (overall meaning of the work), (b) Interpretive
Statement (Can I express what I think the artwork is about in one sentence), and (c) Evidence (What
evidence inside or outside the artwork supports my interpretation?).
4. Judgment. Judging a piece of work means giving it rank in relation to other works and of course
considering a very important aspect of the visual arts; its originality. It answers the questions “Is it a good
artwork?” Is it a good composition?
Here are some points that can help you write your judgment:
How do you think: is the work successful or not?
Does this art object seem original or not?
What do you feel when looking at this piece of artwork?
Go back to your first impression. Has anything changed? What did you learn?
If nothing changed, explain your first reaction to the work.
What have you learned from this work that you might apply to your own artwork or your thinking?

In judging the piece of work, there must be:

a. Criteria (What criteria do I think are most appropriate for judging the artwork or writing?),
b. Evidence (What evidence inside or outside the artwork or piece of writing relate to each criterion?)’
and
c. Judgment (Based on the criteria and evidence, what is my judgment about the quality of the artwork or
piece of writing?).
E.g., the artwork successfully conveys the atmosphere of a battle through its composition and color
scheme. Learning about its backstory helped me to appreciate the painting even more.

C. How to Critique Different Art Forms

As you can imagine, all kinds of masterpieces are subject to art criticism. For example, you can
choose to write about paintings, drawings, sculptures, or even buildings. And, naturally, all these forms of
art have their specific features!
These tips will provide you with an art critique template for anything, be it an oil painting or a
cathedral.

1. Painting Critique. Paint is a medium that emphasizes light, colors, and space. for example:
*What school of painting does it belong to? Is it typical or unusual for this particular school?
E.g., Monet’s Water Lilies is a typical Impressionist painting.
*Describe the way the artist applies paint. Are there broad paint strokes, small points of color, or
just a smooth surface? What effect does it help to achieve?
E.g., Van Gogh’s broad brush strokes help to create a sense of motion.
*Describe how the light is depicted. Where does the light come from? Is there a strong value
contrast? In what way does the shadow function? What, in your opinion, does it evoke?
E.g., strong contrast makes the central figures stand out.
*Speak about the handling of space in the picture. Does it look flat or three-dimensional? What kind
of perspective is used. (e.g., one-point perspective, or bird’s eye view?)
E.g., in this painting, Picasso uses multi-dimensional geometrical shapes.

2. Sculpture Critique. Similarly, many specific factors influence the overall impression of a sculpture.
Here are some things to pay attention to:
*Say if the material gives a particular texture to the statue. Is the surface smooth, or is it uneven?
E.g., Rodin’s sculpture has an unusual earthy texture.
*The surrounding space is just as important as the sculpture itself. Describe the place (in the
museum, in a park, in front of a building) where it is situated. What does it add to the sculpture?
E.g., the statue appears to walk along the road.
*Speak about the color of the sculpture. Is it painted? Does it rely on natural lights and shadows?
E.g., the statue is white. A museum floodlight lights it from above, creating expressive
shadows.
*Describe the composition of the sculpture. What does it look like when you approach it? Did the
sculptor provide any in structions on how to position it?
E.g., the statue is enormous and can be viewed from all sides.
3. Architecture Critique. You can write art critiques on architecture, too!
Just bear in mind the following points:
*What architectural style does it belong to?
E.g., the cathedral is a typical Gothic building.
*Was it built with a purpose? Did a specific person request it?
E.g., the Palace of Versailles was requested by Louis IV as a symbol of his monarchy.
*Did one architect complete the building, or were there any alterations? Why were they made?
E.g., the spire was added to the cathedral much later. It became the integral part of its image.
*What do the exterior and the interior look like? What effect do they produce? Is there a contrast
between them?
E.g., the building has a high ceiling painted like the sky. It also makes the organ music sound
louder.
*Are there statues or paintings on the walls? Discuss them as well!
E.g., statues on the cathedral’s facade illustrate scenes from the Bible.

4. Photography Critique. Analyzing a photograph is a lot like critiquing a painting.

Still, there are some unique features to consider:
*How does the photographer use focus? Is any part of the image blurry? What effect does it
produce?
E.g., the background is out-of-focus, which has a dreamy effect.
*Is the picture monochrome? If yes, describe its tone, contrast, and shadows. If no, describe the use
of color.
E.g., the picture is in black and white, with stark contrasts.
*If it’s a photo of a face, pay extra attention to the emotion it expresses. If it’s dynamic, discuss the
sense of motion.
E.g., the photograph conveys a sense of cheerfulness through the girl’s expression and the use
of light.

Example of review of artwork (painting) 1:

The Weeping Woman by Pablo Picasso in France, 1937

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Describe:
The Weeping Woman is a painting finished by Pablo Picasso in France, 1937. This type of artwork
can be considered to be expressionism. There isn’t an actual background scene in the painting.
The background is completed with different lines and colors. The woman is the focus point of this
painting. She is wearing an accessory on top of her head which demonstrates her elegance. My first
impression of the artwork is that the face of the woman is not proportionate and is only painted with
lines, no curves. The main colors that are used in this painting are green, yellow, blue, purple, red and
black. The painting is set mainly of lined and little curves. The mood and visual effect that this painting
portrays can be considered to be suffering, and sadness.

Analyzes:
The colors that the author uses can be considered to be quite different as each color conveys a
separate impression. The light purple that begins at the bottom top of the woman’s eyes can convey
sadness. The other half of the face is mainly covered in green and yellow; these can be said to interpret
other solid emotions that the painter must have towards this woman as she was a vital character in
Picasso’s life. The painting is created with mainly lines which can mean that the woman had strong
physical features or that her different emotions were felt passionately as lines are usually seen as strong
technical elements. The only curves that are being used are for her hair and eyes. The eyes look quite
down or depressive. This is because the woman is crying, which goes back to the main mood which is
suffering.

Interpretation:
I believe that Picasso wanted the audience to feel pain and provide a statement that explains how
all women feel and the agony that they are consistently in. The audience can see that the woman has
peeled away her flesh by corrosive tears to reveal her white bones. The handkerchief she tries to stuff in
her mouth seems as a shard of glass. This vivid image can convey pain and hurting. Picasso has expressed
the behavior of this woman several times and often describes the constant tears that fall off her eyes. So,
the feeling conveyed by the artwork is definitely suffering. Picasso wanted us to feel her and understand
the pain that she was going through. It was not easy to be a woman during that time since females where
often frowned upon. Picasso demonstrates the appreciation that he has for her through this painting as
he wants the audience to understand her.

Judge:
Finally, the artist’s value may be to evoke pain, as mentioned previously. This is due to the colors
that Picasso used and the shapes that he draws; not only these technical elements but also the images
that the painter uses within the actual face of the woman. The painting relates to the entire female
community. This community can understand the painting and know what Picasso was trying to portray.
Every woman is able understand and comprehend the message behind this painting as we all feel the
same way at one point in our lives. I believe that this is a strong value in the painting. The weak value lies
in the different colors that the painter chooses. I found it confusing to interpret other areas of the face as
the colors that were used didn’t seem to match other locations of the face.

Example of review of artwork 2:

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci

 What Does the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci Depict?
‘The Last Supper’ of Leonardo da Vinci is considered to be undoubtedly a masterpiece. Debates
have ensued, though, concerning the interpretation of this piece of art. Some even claim that Leonardo
da Vinci tried to transfer a secret message to us through it. What is portrayed in this painting that has
attracted and enchanted such a great amount of viewers?
The painting depicts a supper of twelve disciples of Jesus Christ and Christ himself before the
prophet is betrayed (Essak, 2013). Jesus Christ gathers all together in order to eat and drink at a table,
which is not so big and where the food itself is plain. This humble atmosphere allows the viewers to focus
more on the disciples and Christ. In addition to this, Christ tells the assembly that one person who is
present in that supper will betray him. The painting actually shows the first moment after this statement
and the reactions of the disciples to this speech (Saunders, 2011). Leonardo da Vinci artfully depicts
shock, surprise and other various human emotions in his painting. Although every person in the painting
possesses unique features, I believe ”The Last Supper’ can be divided into four symmetrical groups full of
life and motion (Essak, 2013).
The group from the left side of Christ reacts impulsively and is united by one and the same will. One
disciple has even stood up and another has his finger raised. The group that is on right-hand side is
characterized by greater reserve. There is a huge distance between them and Jesus Christ. Judah who can
be found among these disciples holding a pouch, perhaps with silver.
His dark and harsh appearance contrasts magnificently with the innocent and light figure of John.
Some scientists claim that this is not actually John, but Mary Magdalene, because his face is feminine and
gentle (Welborn, 2013). In thinking critically, this version is hardly believable, as Christ gathered twelve
disciples, not eleven. Otherwise the symbolism of ‘The Last Supper’ does not make any sense. Between
Judah and John, the head of Peter can be seen and moreover, he holds a knife in his arm as if he would
like to protect Jesus. From his right-hand side, another group of disciples is portrayed. They are turned in
profile and it looks like they are astonished by the news that was introduced. From the opposite side, we
may see Matthew who is asking the same question to the other men trying to find the clear explanation
of what is happening at that particular moment.
Frankly speaking, while searching for a secret code of Leonardo da Vinci in his painting ‘the Last
Supper’, one may lose the real visible goal of the picture. It brilliantly portrays the discrepancy between
the conciliation of Christ with his future, his reserve, calm and absolutely different emotional states and
unique reactions of his disciples to the piece of news that he will be betrayed. The painting has vague
aspects about it and perhaps hidden symbols, but this is not the reason why this painting attracts millions
of people and involves them into the researches and deep investigation of every centimeter of this
masterpiece.

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