Art Criticism theories (formal, contextual, and expressive) help art historians and critics categorize art. An artwork will not represent a theory, but a theory can lead to a better understanding of...

Art Criticism theories (formal, contextual, and expressive) help art historians and critics categorize art. An artwork will not represent a theory, but a theory can lead to a better understanding of the artwork.

• Complete three (3) slides, one for each of the art criticism theories: formal, contextual, and expressive

For each slide, address the following:

• Describe the art criticism theory.


• Tell why you feel this theory is the best fit for the artwork.


• Tell how the theory explains one of your gallery artworks.


• Explain how the purpose and structure of the work relate to this theory.


• Please submit your full presentation thus far, which should include the previous updated segments and the segment for this unit.

PowerPoint Presentation Famous paintings of flowers Famous paintings of flowers Flowers have attracted a lot of artists. Artists have used floral patterns to depict many different ages. Flowers have been the focal point of art works. In outdoor paintings, flowers is one of the most painted element of the nature. Flowers have been painted in different art forms. Since the 15th century till date flowers have attracted several artists. Flowers have attracted several artists since the historic times and till date. It is one of the most painted natural subject from the natural environment and has attracted several artist to love to make outdoor paintings. Many famous art works of the period of Renaissance and middle ages depict floral patterns in the background. The topic is interesting because it helps to show various emotions through subjects from the nature. 2 Famous paintings of flowers Floral theme is used depict several emotions This theme is also used to show religious beliefs This theme is used to depict affection, religion, love etc. Flowers have unpredictable meanings which can be depicted through paintings. In the opinion of Wang and Zhang (2017) floral paintings are aesthetically appealing. Flowers can be used to depict unpredictable emotions which cannot be expressed through words or gestures. The theme is used not only to show love and affection but is also useful in depicting religious beliefs and deep meanings. 3 1. BULLFINCH AND WEEPING CHERRY BLOSSOMS Katsushika Hokusai 1834 Ink and color Citation: Katsushika Hokusai Bullfinch and weeping cherry (Uso shidarezakura), ca. 1834 Available at: https://risdmuseum.org/art-design/collection/bullfinch-and-weeping-cherry-uso-shidarezakura-34489 4 BULLFINCH AND WEEPING CHERRY BLOSSOMS The artist has used colors like blue and pink has painted it on a paper through ink and color with techniques such as woodblock and woodcut. Painting depicts bullfinch a small bird on a tree known as weeping cherry tree. The bird is said to protect against misfortune in the coming year. Buds and blossoms have been mixed through cheerful shades of red. The painting was created by a famous Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai in the year 1834. His work has been a source of inspiration fro several artists who follow western style of painting. This painting has been created on one of his favorite subjects i.e. flowers and birds. The painting depicts bullfinch a small bird on a tree known as weeping cherry tree. The bird is said to protect against misfortune in the coming year. Hokusai has managed to make excellent use of woodblock and woodcut techniques and created a painting in shades of blue and red with ink and color. 5 Bullfinch and Weeping Cherry Blossoms Unity: The harmonious elements of this painting that contributes to the unity of it is the use of the colors that complement each other. Variety: There is no prominent element of variety in the painting. Balance: The painting is asymmetrical due to the presence of the flowers and the bird on one side and the blue shading on the other. Emphasis: The various shapes of the cherry blossoms and their white colors draws the most attention in the painting Directional forces: The directional force of the painting makes the viewer look down the cherry blossoms where one can see the Bullfinch. Contrast: The Presence of white cherry blossoms on a medium blue background creates a subtle contrast in the painting. Repetition and rhythm: The artist has portrayed repetition and in the picture through the cherry blossoms of different sizes. Scale and proportion: The artwork is drawn on a rectangular canvas. On the blue background the cherry blossoms take up relatively more space then the Bullfinch. 2. FLOWERS IN A CRYSTAL VASE Édouard Manet 1882 oil on canvas Citation: lowers in a Crystal Vase (1882) – Edouard Manet Available at: https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.52181.html 7 FLOWERS IN A CRYSTAL VASE Artist has created this famous work during his last days of life with oil on canvas. Manet was a French artist and has influenced the western artists to a great extent and is known as Father of Modernism for his radical paintings. The painting depicts floral still life. This painting was created out of a bouquet which Manet’s friends brought to him when he was home bound. As mentioned by Briggs (2015) paintings depicting Manet’s paintings depicting floral still life are pure. This famous piece of art was created by French artist Édouard Manet in the year 1882 during the last days of his life. The painting was created through oil on canvas and is apiece of art which paved way for western artist following the modern style of painting. The painting excellently depicts the floral still life of the bouquet which his friends brought for Manet during the days when he was home bound. 8 Flowers In A Crystal Vase Unity: There is no prominent harmonious element in the painiting. Variety: The artist has expressed variety in the painting through the various colored flowers in a crystal vase. Balance: The painting is asymmetrical due to the different shape and color of the flowers present in the vase. Emphasis: The emphasis in the painting is laid on the texture, size, and color of the flowers. Directional forces: There is no directional force in this artwork. Contrast: A sharp contrast is portrayed through a dull grey background and the bright range of the flowers in the vase. Repetition and rhythm: There is no repetition or rhythm in the objects drawn in this painting. Scale and proportion: The artwork is done on a rectangular canvas. 3. FLOWERS IN A VASE Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1866 oil on canvas Citation: Flowers in a Vase (1866) – Pierre-Auguste Renoir Available at: https://www.artsy.net/artwork/pierre-auguste-renoir-flowers-in-a-vase 10 FLOWERS IN A VASE Created by a French impressionist painter who created numerous floral paintings based on modern art. This painting is a rich depiction of floral arrangements on a canvas. Large brush strokes and thick impasto has been used to depict impressionism. Fleeting effect of light has been captured through bright pigments. Bouquet has been painted while paying attention to positioning and perspective. This painting has been created by Pierre-Auguste Renoir in the year 1866. he was among the first French painters who followed the style of impressionism. This painting depicts the floral arrangement on canvas through large brush strokes to show the skills of impressionism. Bright shades have been used in the painting to capture the effect of light. Artist has also considered positioning and perspective while panting this beautiful piece of art. This piece is considered as one of the modern piece of art in the French art style. 11 Flowers In a Vase Unity: The use of a green background and the leaves of the flowers have become complementary to create a unity in the painting. Variety: Variety lies in the different colors used for the flowers. Balance: The painting has a subtle balance as the artist has crated a little symmetry in the flowers. Emphasis: The flowers and their color draws the most attention in the painting. Directional forces: There is no flow of direction in this artwork. Contrast: The bright colors of the colors are in contrast with the full green background and leaves. Repetition and rhythm: Repetition of shapes, sizes and colors is noticed in the flowers following a nearly symmetrical pattern. Scale and proportion: The painting is drawn on a rectangular canvas. 4. BLACK IRIS III Georgia O’Keeffe 1926 oil on canvas Citation: Black Iris III (1926) – Georgia O’Keeffe Available at: https://www.georgiaokeeffe.net/black-iris.jsp 13 BLACK IRIS III This painting is an example of American modernism in art and paintings using dark shades. The painting is a combined depiction of abstraction and representation. This painting is a dramatically large close up of flower making it look like an abstract piece of art. These paintings have sometimes being looked upon morphological metaphor for female genitalia. This is a familiar image depicting Christian iconography. As opined by van Paasschen, Bacci and Melcher (2015) abstract art forms have a great impact on the emotions of people. Georgia O’Keeffe is an American modern artist who painted this famous and controversial painting in the year 1926. The painting is a piece of art which can be viewed as a dramatically large close up of flower making it look like an abstract piece of art. The image has been painted using dark shades. The painting has also been into controversies as it was sometimes considered as an morphological metaphor for female genitalia. The artist has made beautiful use of oil on canvas to create a familiar image of Christian iconography. 14 Black Iris III Unity: Unity in the artwork is expressed through the blending of the two contradictory colors. Variety: There is no prominent element of variety in the artwork. Balance: The artist has created a balance in the picture by making it almost symmetrical. Emphasis: The iris remains he focal point of the artwork. Directional forces: The viewer is most like to observe the artwork from top to bottom. Contrast: Contrast is created with the choice of colors. Repetition and rhythm: There is no repetitive or rhythmic elements in the artwork. Scale and proportion: The canvas used in a square. 5. FLOWERS Andy Warhol 1964 acrylic, silkscreen ink on canvas Citation: Flowers (1964) – Andy Warhol Available at: https://www.moma.org/collection/works/71491 16 5. FLOWERS This is a nature focused work of an American pop artist Andy Warhol . This is one of the monumental scale paintings of flowers by the artist. This painting depicts beautiful use of offset lithography through bright colors using acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas. He used a botanical picture to paint this piece of art. The flowers he painted are representative and abstract, uplifting and somber as well as sunny and dark. The painting depicts a transitional phase of the artist’s life and career. As suggested by Kuo and Lai (2017) colors play an important role on the perception of viewers. This work of Andy Warhol created in the year 1964 is inspired by a botanical image. The piece of art is representative as well as abstract and portrays the flowers with all their beauty through the sunny and dark sides. The painter has made use of acrylic and silkscreen colors to paint an electric green ground overlaid with black screen of grass with four large and bright flowers on it. This is one of the monumental scale paintings of flowers by the artist. The painting depicts a phase of transition in the life and career of the artist. 17 Flowers Unity: Unity in the picture is depicted in the background through the green leaves and blue flowers. Variety: Variety is expressed through the different prominent colors used in the artwork. Balance: The painting is asymmetrical. Emphasis: Emphasis in the artwork is laid on the three flowers on the left. Directional forces: The viewer is more likely to observe the bright flowers first and then shift to the right side of the artwork. Contrast: Contrast in created between the grass and the three flowers