Reading a painting like a critic
Describe, analyse, interpret, judge — in that order. Opinions land far harder when the description came first.
Part of your national curriculum
- Developing ideas: Analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work
- Artists and context: Understand about the history of art, craft, design and architecture, including periods, styles and major movements from ancient times up to the present day
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Analyse and evaluate the work of others
Key learning points
- • The four steps
- • Context changes meaning
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 10 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 10
Watch first
Reading a painting like a critic
An English teaching video on this topic from Little Art Talks. Watch it, then scroll down for the lesson.
In a nutshell
Analyse and evaluate the work of others
Explore the idea
Part 2 of 10
Learn
The four steps
Describe what is literally there. Analyse how the formal elements are arranged. Interpret the possible meaning. Only then judge how successful it is.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 10
Learn
Context changes meaning
The same image made in 1890 and 1990 says different things. Date, place and audience are part of the evidence.
Quick check
Part 4 of 10
Quick check
Critique should begin with…
Quick check
Part 5 of 10
Quick check
Interpretation is…
Quick check
Part 6 of 10
Quick check
Context includes…
Challenge round
Part 7 of 10
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 8 of 10
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
Interpret the possible ____.
Mastery quiz
Part 9 of 10
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Reading a painting like a critic
3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Critique should begin with…
2. Interpretation is…
3. Context includes…
Lesson round-up
Part 10 of 10
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
Not sat
Games
Not played
Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaDo the work
Your written work for this lesson
This is the part you'd do in your book at school. Pick the pieces below, write here or on paper, and photograph anything you draw or work out.
Reading a portrait
Artists make choices before they make marks. A sitter placed high in the frame looks powerful; the same sitter low in the frame looks small. Light falling from one side sculpts a face into shadow and bone; flat light makes it open and plain.
Objects do work too. A book says learning, a dog says loyalty, a wilting flower says time passing. Viewers in the past read these signs as easily as we read a logo.
When you look at a portrait, ask three questions: where is the light coming from, what has the artist put in the sitter's hands, and where am I standing — above, below, or level with them?
Written for Good Learning Co.
Reading questions
- Choose a portrait and answer the article's three questions about it.
- Explain how you would light a portrait to make someone look kind.
- Plan your own portrait, listing two objects you would include and what each one says.
Sketchbook page
DiagramMake your own piece, then photograph it for your sketchbook page.
1 finished piece
Annotation
WritingWrite around your work: what you tried, what worked, what you would change.
6 sentences
Saved as you type.
Part 1 of 10 · Watch & discover
How this is going
- Not looked at yet
Analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work
- Not looked at yet
Understand about the history of art, craft, design and architecture, including periods, styles and major movements from ancient times up to the present day