Art is an activity that enables us to communicate with other people through the expression of imagination and sensations that go beyond the limitations of spoken or written language. The concept of art developed in the 18th century as a way to classify literature, music, dance and sculpture and distinguish them from crafts and other popular forms of expression. Today, it is considered an essential part of our human culture and is valued as a means to deliver pleasure, stimulate the senses, and enrich the quality of life.
Art has many functions and may be used for a range of purposes, from entertainment to advertising to political activism. These functions may overlap and are often dependent on the context within which a work of art is created.
The earliest artistic displays by humans date back to prehistoric times when Homo sapiens decorated caves with pictures, probably for narrative or shamanic purposes. These were likely coloured with natural pigments on a soft, flexible material such as clay or animal skin. Some of these paintings have survived to the present day and can be viewed in museums and other public galleries.
A key element in assessing artwork is considering the processes that the artist has employed to create it. This can be an opportunity to look at technical skills and techniques, or how the artwork was constructed in terms of design and production.
In addition to the techniques, consider the materials and how they are used (i.e. rough, smooth, textured, glossy, flat, matte, glazed, polished, sculptural, organic). How are these materials used in relation to the image and each other? Are they grouped together or spread out, and what effect do these choices have on the overall mood of the artwork?
Assess the artwork for signs of balance and harmony. Does the composition seem to be symmetrical or asymmetrical, regular or chaotic, linear or circular? What effect does this have on the artwork and how would you describe the emotional mood that it evokes?
Identify what the artist was trying to convey in the piece. How does this fit in with wider cultural or social ideas and beliefs, and how do they differ from your own?
Evaluate the broader meanings of the artwork and how they might relate to your own experiences and values. Consider how the artist’s own upbringing, personal circumstances and beliefs might influence your interpretation of the artwork.
How is the pictorial space in the artwork manipulated to convey depth and distance? For example, how is the foreground and middle-ground separated from the background by overlapping shapes; the use of shadows to anchor objects in space; the illusion of perspective such as one point or linear; tonal modelling; spatial distortions or optical illusions such as vanishing points and mirroring; framing of images in diptychs or triptychs?
Art is inherently subjective and can be interpreted differently by each person. However, it is important to understand the fundamental principles of aesthetics, such as line, shape, texture, form, space, colour and value. Then, by using these criteria as guidelines for analysing artworks you can develop your own critical observations and insights.