Critic of the Arts (ANSWERED)

QUESTION

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 3, 4
Lesson
Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)

Initial Post Instructions

Select a work of art from any of the chapters in our textbook, and write a response that analyzes the art through the lens of a descriptive critic, an interpretive critic, and an evaluative critic. What different things would these critics have to say? Use the following guidelines:

Descriptive Critic: Address at least 3 different elements of art and/or principles of design.
Interpretive Critic: This will require research so that you can understand the subject, meaning, and intent of the work.
Evaluative Critic: Use the standards of perfection, insight, and inexhaustibility (as described in the text).

Follow-Up Post Instructions

Respond to at least one peer. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification. Provide feedback on whether you agree or disagree with their criticism. Explain why. Build on their posts by providing additional insight of your own. If your peer selected the same artwork as you, make sure to address new point or develop existing points in more depth.

ANSWER

Critic of the Arts

Mona Lisa

Descriptive Critic

The portrait’s formal element is an isosceles triangle. However, the triangle’s three points are round, softening the portrait’s form. Mona Lisa’s head is positioned at the top of the isosceles triangle, while her hands create a diagonal that leads to the triangle’s base (Martin & Jacobus, 2019). A closer look at how the hands are crossed reveals that the hands form an inverted or upside-down triangle on their own. The flesh on Mona Lisa’s neck and bosom also creates another triangle. Encyclopedia of Art Education (n.d) claims that there is an imbalance in the portrait’s composition. The right side of the portrait reveals a rocky horizon, while the left (lower) depicts a flatland. The artist’s painting technique consists of muted color schemes. He uses ultra-subtle tonal gradations; hence, his color transitions are almost unrecognizable.

Interpretive Critic

Martin and Jacobus (2019) indicate that the landscape of the portrait depicts mystery. The landscape features a jagged mountain, a winding road, and a misty river. It is created from an aerial perspective and lacks a clearly-defined vanishing point, giving the portrait a magical feature. Mona Lisa’s smile remains a mystery. Some historians claim the smile shows an understanding between the sitter and painter; others think it is an erotic or self-satisfaction smile, and many others think it is an optical illusion. Encyclopedia of Art Education (n.d) believes the soft sfumato is responsible for the subtle smile, while Kontsevich and Tyler (2004) believe it is the image noise (color and brightness variations and appearance of undesired traces) that create the illusion of a smile.

Evaluative Criticism

The overall impression created by the portrait is that of significant serenity and mystery. The serenity is accentuated by the muted color schemes, the soothing sfumato tones, and the harmony created by Mona Lisa’s pyramid-shaped pose. Her shoulders are curved at a significant angle, a position that is visually captivating and contributes to the portrait’s mystery. The portrait’s mystery comes from her enigmatic smile, gaze, and hands which have an unreal quality. The mystery and enigma in the portrait arouse certain feelings in a viewer. Despite how much has been written and the passage of time, this portrait continues to captivate viewers, making it an iconic artwork.

References

Encyclopedia of Art Education. (n.d.). Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci: Analysis, Interpretation. Encyclopedia of Art Education. http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-paintings/mona-lisa.htm

Kontsevich, L. L., & Tyler, C. W. (2004). What makes Mona Lisa smile? Vision Research, 44(13), 1493–1498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2003.11.027

Martin, F. D., & Jacobus, L. (2019). Humanities through the Arts. McGraw-Hill Education