evaluating art
DESCRIPTION
How do we evaluate an art object? This slideshow lays out four theories of art: realism, expressionism, formalism, and post-modernism.TRANSCRIPT
Evaluating Art
Encountering the object
What do you see? Does it matter who made it?
Encountering the object
Artist unknownThe Sleeping Lady, ca. 3600 - 2500 B.C.Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, Malta
Henry Moore (1898-1986)Reclining Woman, 1927Cast concreteBritish
Four theories of art
• RealismArt portrays reality as we see it
• ExpressionismArt shows feelings and communicates thoughts
• FormalismArt is significant form
• Post-modernismArt is critical of accepted power structures
Realism
Ron MueckBed, 2005
George SegalBlue Girl on Black Bed, 1976
Realism
• The goal of art is to accurately describe reality• Plato (428 – 348 BC) originated the theory• Art is an imitation of reality• Emphasis on craft and beauty
Realism
Which one of these is more like reality?
Expressionism
Alison SaarUntitled (from the Crossroads installation), 1989
Artist anonymousPower Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), mid to late 19th century
Expressionism
• Art communicates subjective, personal, and cultural ideas
• Fidelity to“reality” doesn’t reflect complexity of subjects
• Art is a special way of knowing the world• Emphasis on feelings and individual experience
Expressionism
What is being expressed? How does the object communicate?
Loretta PettwayLazy Gal – Bars, ca. 1965
Barnett NewmanConcord, 1949
Formalism
Formalism
• “Art for art’s sake”• Art is important because it can find essence of
form• Emphasis on abstraction, composition, and an
object’s internal relationships• Art about essences
Willie “Ma Willie” AbramsRoman Stripes variation, c. 1975
Sean ScullyRaphael, 2004
Are these objects communicating the same thing?
David HammonsAfrican-American Flag, 1990
Mickalene ThomasMama Bush: (Your love keeps lifting me) higher and higher, 2009
Post-modernism
Post-modernism
• Art meant to question, challenge and provoke• Emphasis on social experience and not
individual• Interest in creating new relationships in society• Art is pluralistic; it tells a truth, not the truth
David HammonsAfrican-American Flag, 1990
Mickalene ThomasMama Bush: (Your love keeps lifting me) higher and higher, 2009
What questions are being asked in these?
• What is your philosophy of art?• Is there a “best” way to approach artwork?• Do theories help to look at artwork?