How to Write an Art Critique: Examples & Strategies

An art critique paper involves a comprehensive analysis and assessment of the object of art. Though this looks a bit complicated, the task doesn’t require a lot of time if you have sufficient critique writing skills. It’s an interesting assignment for students of art colleges as well as high schoolers. All you need is to study some effective art critique techniques. It will help make your essay creative and attention-grabbing.

This article by Custom-writing experts will serve as a guideline for your excellent art critique paper! It contains all the basic information as well as examples and tips on how to critique different art forms.

🎨 Art Critique: Basic Information

Critical analysis of artwork stimulates and encourages the discussion of art. When you write it, you express your opinion. And when you receive a critique, you learn from others. Every person evaluates art differently. Some pay extra attention to the color scheme and composition. Others appreciate realistic qualities in artworks. And some people look for expressiveness and emotion.

You may think that because of these differences, we can’t objectively critique art. Luckily, there is an accepted way to conduct a formal analysis of an artwork. It’s called Feldman’s method, and it consists of four elements: description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment. More information on these elements can be found in section 3.

👣 How to Write an Art Critique Step by Step

🔬 Feldman’s Method: 4 Art Critique Elements

To write a perfect art critique paper, use the four elements mentioned before: description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment. Understanding these elements will allow you to evaluate any artwork thoroughly and objectively.

When you start writing a critique, remember that a useful analysis provides your view of the object’s strong and weak attributes.

Description

First of all, describe the artwork. At this stage, you don’t have to analyze anything. You just answer the question: what do you see?

Here are some essential questions that you might want to answer in your artwork description:

❓	What is the title of the work and the name of the artist?
❓	What is the artwork made of?
❓	What colors, shapes, and textures did the artist use?
❓	What techniques were used by the artist?
❓	What are the objects you see in the artwork? Does it depict people, plants, or abstract forms?

Analysis

The next step you take when writing an art critique assignment is analysis. To analyze an artwork means to evaluate how its elements correlate with each other. At this stage, you figure out what helps the artwork to convey an idea or a mood.

When writing this section, answer the following questions:

❓	Do the features of the piece complement each other?
❓	Do they create chaos or harmony?
❓	Are there any artwork elements, such as balance, proportion, similarity, and contrast? What are the most prominent?
❓	Search for historical underpinnings that became a basis for the artwork under analysis. How does it tell the story of its time?
❓	Are there any exciting effects, such as movement or soft focus?
❓	What is your emotional reaction to the artwork?

Interpretation

In this next section, we are looking for the meaning behind the artwork. It may seem like a tough task, especially if the artwork is cryptic or too unusual. But don’t worry: at this stage, the interpretation is entirely up to you!

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 questions that you can answer while interpreting an artwork:

❓	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?

Judgment

And now it’s time to express your opinion! You’re deciding if the work succeeded in creating a mood or telling a story.

It’s essential to be objective when judging an art object. Remember: even if there’s something you don’t like, the work still can be successful! And don’t forget to provide evidence that supports your judgment.

Here are some points that can help you write the fourth part of your review:

❓	What 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?
❓	What have you learned from this work that you might apply to your artwork or your thinking?

📜 Art Critique Examples

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.

Painting Critique Examples

Paint is a medium that emphasizes light, colors, and space. You can discuss these and many other points in your critique.

❓ DISCUSSION POINT	✔️ 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.

Sculpture Critique Examples

Similarly, many specific factors influence the overall impression of a sculpture. Below are some things to pay attention to.

❓ DISCUSSION POINT	✔️ EXAMPLE
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 instructions on how to position it?	E.g., the statue is enormous and can be viewed from all sides.

Architecture Critique Examples

You can write art critiques on architecture, too! Just bear in mind the points below.

❓ DISCUSSION POINT	✔️ EXAMPLE
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 an 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.

Photography Critique Examples

Analyzing a photograph is a lot like critiquing a painting. Still, there are some unique features to consider.

❓ DISCUSSION POINT	✔️ EXAMPLE
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.

✏️ Art Critique FAQ

🔗 References

1. Art criticism and formal analysis outline
2. Teaching Students to Critique
3. How to Judge Art: Five Qualities you can Critique whether you’re an Artist or not
4. The Most Influential Art Critics Today
5. Magazines About Art and Online Newsletters
6. The Steps to Art Criticism: The Virtual Instructor
7. How to Analyze an Artwork: Step-by-Step Guide: Student Art Guide
8. Visual Analysis Guidelines: Skidmore College
9. Exploring Photographs: Khan Academy
10. Guidelines for Analysis of Art: University of Arkansas at Little Rock
11. How to Critique Your Painting: Artists Network