Question

Your classmate Juliette feels overwhelmed while trying to critique a piece of art. She confides in you that she has no idea where to begin. What is the best advice you have Juliette to help her with her critique.

Answer 1

Tell Juliette: start simple, then build. Use a small, reliable structure so you don’t get overwhelmed.

A concise, 6‑step approach
1. Pause and look
- Spend 5–10 minutes looking before you say anything. Note your immediate impressions and feelings.
- Jot down the first three words or emotions the piece gives you.

2. Describe (objective)
- Say exactly what you see — title, artist, date, medium, size (if known).
- Describe composition, subject matter, colors, textures, and any clear motifs. Don’t interpret yet.
- Example starters: “I see…”, “The painting shows…”, “The dominant colors are…”

3. Analyze (how it’s made)
- Focus on formal elements and principles: line, shape, color, value, texture, space, scale, balance, contrast, rhythm, focal point.
- Ask: How has the artist used these elements? What draws the eye? What techniques stand out?
- Evidence: Always point to something tangible in the work to support what you say.

4. Interpret (what it might mean)
- Move from “what” and “how” to “why”: what themes, emotions, or messages does the work suggest?
- Consider possible intentions and alternative readings. Use phrases like “This suggests…” or “It could mean…”
- Keep interpretations tied to visual evidence: “Because of X, it seems the artist is commenting on Y.”

5. Evaluate (is it successful?)
- Decide whether the work achieves its aims (as you interpret them). Consider originality, technical skill, emotional impact, coherence.
- Be specific and constructive: explain why something works or doesn’t.
- Distinguish personal taste from critical judgment: “I don’t like the color palette” vs. “The limited palette helps unify the composition and strengthens the mood.”

6. Conclude / give a takeaway
- Summarize your main point in one or two sentences: what is the work doing and how well does it do it?
- Offer suggestions only if appropriate (e.g., for class critiques).

Practical tips
- Use the “What? How? Why?” loop: What is depicted? How is it depicted? Why might the artist have chosen to do it that way?
- Keep notes as you look; they’ll form the backbone of your critique.
- If overwhelmed, pick 1–2 aspects to focus on (e.g., color and composition).
- Support claims with specifics: point to a passage of the painting, particular brushwork, or a compositional choice.
- Be respectful and curious — critique the work, not the artist.
- Do a quick bit of research if context is needed (artist’s intent, historical moment), but don’t rely on it to do the thinking for you.

Sentence starters you can use
- “At first glance I noticed…”
- “Objectively, the work shows…”
- “The artist uses X to emphasize Y, as seen in…”
- “This gives the impression of… which suggests…”
- “Overall, the piece succeeds/falls short because…”

Short template for a written critique
1. Intro: title, artist, medium, one-sentence thesis (what you think the work does).
2. Description: objective facts.
3. Analysis: formal elements and techniques with examples.
4. Interpretation: meaning/themes tied to evidence.
5. Evaluation: strengths, weaknesses, final judgment.
6. Conclusion: one-sentence takeaway.

Final encouragement
Start by simply describing and pointing; layering analysis and interpretation comes naturally after. If you get stuck, pick one visible thing (color, gesture, or composition) and follow it through the What–How–Why steps. You’ll find a clear critique builds quickly from concrete observations.