"Art criticism is the discussion or evaluation of visual art. Art critics usually criticize art in the context of aesthetics or the theory of beauty."
The analysis and evaluation of artworks, including discussion of their aesthetic, social, and cultural significance.
Formal Analysis: A close examination of the art object in terms of its visual elements like color, line, form, and texture.
Art History: A study of the development of styles, conventions, and techniques of art making throughout history.
Iconography: A study of the symbols and signs used in artworks and their cultural and historical meanings.
Cultural Context: A discussion of the social, political, and economic circumstances surrounding the creation and reception of artwork.
Semiotics: A study of signs and symbols and how they convey meaning in visual images.
Aesthetic Theory: A discussion of the nature of beauty, taste, and judgment in the creation and appreciation of art.
Feminist Art Criticism: A critical approach that examines the role of gender, sexuality, and identity in the production and interpretation of art.
Postcolonial Criticism: A critical approach that examines the impact of colonialism and imperialism on art production and reception.
Psychoanalytic Criticism: A critical approach that analyzes artwork in terms of the unconscious desires and conflicts of the artist and viewer.
Queer Theory: A critical approach that focuses on the role of sexuality and gender in art production and cultural representation.
"A goal of art criticism is the pursuit of a rational basis for art appreciation."
"It is questionable whether such criticism can transcend prevailing socio-political circumstances."
"The variety of artistic movements has resulted in a division of art criticism into different disciplines which may each use different criteria for their judgments."
"The most common division in the field of criticism is between historical criticism and evaluation, a form of art history, and contemporary criticism of work by living artists."
"Opinions of current art are always liable to drastic corrections with the passage of time."
"Artists have often had an uneasy relationship with their critics. Artists usually need positive opinions from critics for their work to be viewed and purchased."
"Art can be objective or subjective based on personal preference toward aesthetics and form."
"There are many different variables that determine one's judgment of art such as aesthetics, cognition or perception."
"Art can be based on the elements and principle of design and by social and cultural acceptance."
"Aesthetic, pragmatic, expressive, formalist, relativist, processional, imitation, ritual, cognition, mimetic, and postmodern theories are some of many theories to criticize and appreciate art."
"Art can stand alone with an instantaneous judgment or can be viewed with a deeper more educated knowledge."
"Art is a basic human instinct with a diverse range of form and expression."
"Art is an important part of being human and can be found through all aspects of our lives, regardless of the culture or times."
"Critics of the past are often ridiculed for dismissing artists now venerated."
"Only later generations may understand it (the art)."
"Artists usually need positive opinions from critics for their work to be viewed and purchased."
"Art critics usually criticize art in the context of aesthetics or the theory of beauty."
"Art criticism and appreciation can be subjective based on personal preference toward aesthetics and form."
"A goal of art criticism is the pursuit of a rational basis for art appreciation."