2. Lesson 1: Aesthetic Analysis
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Aesthetics – the study of beauty
Art criticism – describing the sensory and
aesthetic qualities of artworks
3. Steps in Aesthetic Analysis
1) Describe the object's sensory qualities.
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Shape & form
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hue (lightness/darkness of a
colour), intensity, opacity (is it see
through or not?)
geometric (having a regular
shape/form; ex. - square, oval,
circle)
organic (having an irregular
shape/form; ex. - blobs,
animal/human forms)
Colour
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Space
Positive space (space that is
taken up by the object)
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Line width (thick, thin), length,
sharpness/fuzziness,
continuous/broken, flowing,
movement, direction (horizontal,
vertical, diagonal), boundaries/
edges
negative space (space within a
vessel, or within the boundaries of
an object; ex. - underneath a chair)
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Texture
rough, smooth, ridged, pebbly,
grooved, high relief, low relief,
intaglio
4. Steps in Aesthetic Analysis
2) Describe the object's formal qualities.
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Balance
Imagine a line through the object. Are the sides balanced? How do colour,
line, and texture contribute to a feeling of balance? Is the object
symmetrical (the same on both sides) or asymmetrical (not the same on
both sides)? Is it top-heavy (more visual weight at the top)? Or bottomheavy (more visual weight at the bottom)?
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Unity
Are all the parts harmonized? Do the texture and decoration make sense
with the form?
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Proportion & size
How would you describe the size of the object? Think of length, height,
width, volume, weight, thickness. Do the proportions of the vessel make
sense considering its function? If a sculpture is representational, does it
accurately copy the proportions of a model? Are the proportions unusual,
and how does this affect the overall object?
5. Steps in Aesthetic Analysis
2) Describe the object's formal qualities.
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Movement and Rhythm
Are any designs or shapes repeated? Are they repeated in the same way
each time, or do they vary? How? Do the designs or textures feel fast or
slow?
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Emphasis
Does one area grab your attention more than others? Why? How did the
artist emphasize that part?
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Pattern
Are the patterns random or planned? Are they because of repeated lines,
colours, shapes, or textures? Think of words like radial (radiating from a
centre point), grid, alternating, border or band.
6. Steps in Aesthetic Analysis
3) Describe the object's expressive qualities.
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Mood
happy, witty, whimsical, playful, clumsy, mysterious, reflective,
calm, quiet, sad...
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Tension
What kind of energy does the object have:
tranquil, dynamic, powerful, relaxed, conflicted, heavy...
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Ideals/concepts
Does the work represent an ideal or concept?
Heroism, nobility, villainy, ...
7. Steps in Aesthetic Analysis
4) Describe the object's technical qualities.
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Clay
What type of clay was used: earthenware, stoneware, porcelain?
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Process
How was it made? Pinching, coil-building, slab-building, thrown on the
wheel?
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Decoration
What methods were used on the surface? Incising, impressing,
carving...? What colourants were used: oxides, underglazes, glazes?
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Firing
How was it fired: oxidation, reduction? In what kind of kiln: electric,
gas, wood...?
