History of Art Criticism

📝History of Art Criticism Unit 2 – Art Criticism: Historical Foundations

Art criticism has deep roots in history, tracing back to ancient texts and Renaissance humanists. It evolved through the Enlightenment, Romanticism, and modern eras, shaping our understanding of art and its role in society. Key figures like Vasari, Diderot, and Greenberg contributed to its development. Various approaches emerged, from formalism to feminist criticism, reflecting changing philosophical and social contexts. Art criticism continues to influence public taste and cultural discourse.

Key Concepts and Terminology

  • Art criticism involves analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating works of art based on various criteria such as form, content, and context
  • Aesthetic judgment refers to the assessment of beauty, taste, and artistic merit in art criticism
  • Formalism emphasizes the analysis of visual elements (line, color, shape, texture) and principles of design (balance, contrast, emphasis) in art
  • Iconography studies the identification, description, and interpretation of subject matter and symbols in art
  • Hermeneutics is the theory and methodology of interpretation, often applied to the meaning and significance of art
  • Semiotics examines signs, symbols, and signification in art and how they communicate meaning
  • Canon refers to the established list of works considered to be of the highest quality and significance in art history
  • Discourse encompasses the ways in which art is discussed, debated, and understood within specific social and historical contexts

Historical Context and Origins

  • Art criticism has ancient roots, with early forms of art analysis and appreciation found in classical texts (Plato's Republic, Aristotle's Poetics)
  • Renaissance humanists (Giorgio Vasari) laid the foundation for modern art criticism through biographical accounts of artists and assessments of their works
  • Enlightenment thinkers (Denis Diderot, Johann Joachim Winckelmann) contributed to the development of art criticism as a distinct discipline
  • The rise of public exhibitions and salons in the 18th and 19th centuries created a platform for art criticism to flourish
  • Romanticism and the concept of the artist as a genius shifted the focus of art criticism towards individual expression and emotion
  • The emergence of photography and other technological innovations in the 19th century challenged traditional notions of art and prompted new critical approaches

Major Figures and Their Contributions

  • Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) wrote "Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects," providing a biographical model for art criticism
  • Denis Diderot (1713-1784) wrote extensive art criticism for the Encyclopédie, emphasizing the moral and social functions of art
  • Johann Joachim Winckelmann (1717-1768) pioneered the study of art history and the neoclassical ideal of beauty in his writings
  • John Ruskin (1819-1900) championed the Pre-Raphaelite movement and wrote influential works on art and architecture (Modern Painters, The Seven Lamps of Architecture)
  • Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) wrote critical essays on art and modernity, advocating for the autonomy of art and the role of the critic as an interpreter
  • Clement Greenberg (1909-1994) was a prominent champion of abstract expressionism and formulated the concept of medium specificity in art criticism
  • Harold Rosenberg (1906-1978) coined the term "action painting" and emphasized the existential and gestural aspects of abstract expressionism
  • Susan Sontag (1933-2004) wrote influential essays on photography, film, and the intersection of art and politics (On Photography, Against Interpretation)

Philosophical Underpinnings

  • Platonic idealism and the concept of mimesis influenced early art criticism, emphasizing art as an imitation of reality
  • Aristotelian aesthetics and the notion of catharsis shaped the understanding of art's emotional and moral impact
  • Kantian aesthetics introduced the idea of disinterested pleasure and the subjective nature of aesthetic judgments
  • Hegelian dialectics and the concept of art as a manifestation of the Zeitgeist informed the historical and contextual approach to art criticism
  • Marxist aesthetics and the notion of art as a reflection of socioeconomic conditions influenced the development of social art history and criticism
  • Poststructuralism and deconstruction challenged traditional notions of authorship, meaning, and interpretation in art criticism
  • Feminist theory and gender studies shed light on the representation and marginalization of women in art and art criticism
  • Postcolonial theory and cultural studies examined the power dynamics and cultural identities in art production and reception

Evolution of Critical Approaches

  • Biographical criticism focused on the life and personality of the artist as a key to understanding their work (Giorgio Vasari)
  • Formalist criticism emphasized the analysis of visual elements and compositional principles in art (Roger Fry, Clive Bell)
  • Iconographic criticism explored the symbolic and allegorical meanings of art (Erwin Panofsky)
  • Sociological criticism examined the social, political, and economic contexts of art production and reception (Arnold Hauser, T.J. Clark)
  • Psychoanalytic criticism applied Freudian and Jungian theories to the interpretation of art and the artist's psyche (Meyer Schapiro, Ernst Kris)
  • Semiotic criticism analyzed the signs, codes, and communication systems in art (Roland Barthes, Umberto Eco)
  • Feminist criticism challenged the male-dominated canon and explored issues of gender, sexuality, and identity in art (Linda Nochlin, Griselda Pollock)
  • Postcolonial criticism examined the power relations, cultural hybridity, and marginalization in art from a global perspective (Edward Said, Homi Bhabha)

Influential Texts and Writings

  • Giorgio Vasari's "Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects" (1550) set the standard for biographical art criticism
  • Denis Diderot's "Salons" (1759-1781) provided a model for art criticism as a literary genre and a vehicle for public discourse
  • Johann Joachim Winckelmann's "History of Ancient Art" (1764) established the neoclassical ideal and the periodization of art history
  • John Ruskin's "Modern Painters" (1843-1860) championed the Pre-Raphaelite movement and the moral and spiritual dimensions of art
  • Charles Baudelaire's "The Painter of Modern Life" (1863) defined the role of the art critic and the aesthetics of modernity
  • Clement Greenberg's "Avant-Garde and Kitsch" (1939) and "Modernist Painting" (1960) articulated the formalist theory of medium specificity
  • Walter Benjamin's "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" (1936) explored the impact of technology on art and aura
  • Susan Sontag's "Against Interpretation" (1966) challenged the hermeneutic tradition and advocated for an erotics of art

Impact on Art and Society

  • Art criticism has shaped public taste and opinion, influencing the reception and valuation of art works
  • Critics have played a crucial role in the promotion and legitimization of new artistic movements (impressionism, cubism, abstract expressionism)
  • Art criticism has contributed to the formation and revision of the art historical canon, determining which works and artists are considered significant
  • Critical debates have sparked public controversies and censorship battles over the moral, political, and aesthetic dimensions of art (Robert Mapplethorpe, Richard Serra)
  • Art criticism has intersected with broader social and political issues, such as class, race, gender, and sexuality (Guerrilla Girls, AIDS activism)
  • The rise of mass media and digital technologies has transformed the production, dissemination, and consumption of art criticism (blogs, social media)
  • Art criticism has played a role in the commodification and marketization of art, influencing prices and investment trends (art fairs, auctions)
  • The globalization of the art world has challenged Western-centric models of art criticism and called for more diverse and inclusive perspectives

Contemporary Relevance and Applications

  • Art criticism continues to evolve in response to new artistic practices, technologies, and social contexts (digital art, performance art, street art)
  • The rise of interdisciplinary approaches (visual culture studies, material culture studies) has expanded the scope and methods of art criticism
  • The proliferation of online platforms and social media has democratized art criticism, allowing for more diverse voices and perspectives
  • The increasing importance of the art market and the commodification of art has raised questions about the role and independence of art critics
  • The globalization of the art world has challenged the Western canon and called for more inclusive and culturally sensitive approaches to art criticism
  • The growing concern with social justice, identity politics, and representation has informed new critical frameworks (critical race theory, queer theory, disability studies)
  • The environmental crisis and the Anthropocene have prompted eco-critical and posthumanist approaches to art and criticism
  • The ongoing debates about the definition, value, and future of art criticism reflect its enduring significance in shaping our understanding and appreciation of art


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.