📝History of Art Criticism Unit 12 – Art Criticism and Society

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Art criticism involves analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating works of art to understand their meaning, significance, and quality
• Aesthetics is the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of beauty, art, and taste
• Formalism emphasizes the visual elements of an artwork, such as line, color, shape, and composition, rather than its subject matter or context
• Iconography studies the identification, description, and interpretation of the content of images, particularly in art
• Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation in art
  • Includes the analysis of visual codes, conventions, and cultural meanings embedded in artworks
• Hermeneutics is the theory and methodology of interpretation, especially the interpretation of biblical texts, wisdom literature, and philosophical texts
• The canon refers to the established list of works considered to be of the highest quality and most important within a particular field or culture
• Avant-garde describes innovative, experimental, or radical art that pushes boundaries and challenges traditional norms

Historical Context and Development

• Art criticism has ancient roots, with philosophers like Plato and Aristotle discussing the nature and purpose of art in their writings
• During the Renaissance, art criticism emerged as a distinct discipline, with writers like Giorgio Vasari (Lives of the Artists) providing biographies and evaluations of artists
• The 18th century saw the rise of public exhibitions and salons, which provided platforms for art criticism and debate
  • Denis Diderot's reviews of the Paris Salons helped establish art criticism as a literary genre
• In the 19th century, art critics like John Ruskin and Charles Baudelaire championed the idea of "art for art's sake" and the importance of the critic's subjective response
• The 20th century witnessed the development of various critical theories and approaches, such as formalism, Marxism, feminism, and postmodernism
  • These theories provided new lenses through which to analyze and interpret art
• The rise of mass media and the internet in the late 20th and early 21st centuries has transformed the landscape of art criticism, making it more accessible and democratic

Major Art Critics and Their Contributions

• Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) wrote Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, one of the first comprehensive histories of Western art
• John Ruskin (1819-1900) championed the Pre-Raphaelite movement and emphasized the moral and social role of art in his writings
• Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) defined the concept of modernity in art and argued for the autonomy of the critic's subjective response
• Clement Greenberg (1909-1994) was a prominent champion of abstract expressionism and formalism, emphasizing the flat surface of the picture plane
• Harold Rosenberg (1906-1978) coined the term "action painting" to describe the work of abstract expressionists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning
• Linda Nochlin (1931-2017) pioneered feminist art criticism with her groundbreaking essay "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?"
• Arthur Danto (1924-2013) explored the philosophical nature of art and the role of interpretation in his writings, challenging traditional definitions of art
• bell hooks (1952-2021) examined the intersections of race, gender, and class in her art criticism, advocating for a more inclusive and diverse art world

Theories and Approaches in Art Criticism

• Formalism, as advocated by critics like Clement Greenberg, emphasizes the visual elements of an artwork and the medium's inherent properties
• Marxist art criticism examines art in relation to social, economic, and political contexts, focusing on issues of class, power, and ideology
• Feminist art criticism, pioneered by writers like Linda Nochlin and Griselda Pollock, investigates gender roles, representation, and the experiences of women artists
• Psychoanalytic art criticism, influenced by the theories of Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan, explores the unconscious desires and motivations expressed in art
• Postcolonial art criticism analyzes the impact of colonialism, imperialism, and cultural hegemony on art production and reception
• Deconstruction, derived from the philosophical work of Jacques Derrida, questions the stability of meaning and the role of language in art interpretation
• New Historicism, an approach that emerged in the 1980s, examines art in relation to its historical and cultural context, considering factors such as patronage, politics, and social norms
• Phenomenology, based on the philosophy of Edmund Husserl and Maurice Merleau-Ponty, focuses on the subjective experience of the viewer and the embodied nature of perception

Impact on Art Movements and Styles

• Art criticism played a significant role in the development and promotion of various art movements throughout history
• In the 19th century, critics like John Ruskin and Charles Baudelaire championed the Pre-Raphaelite movement and impressionism, respectively, helping to establish their legitimacy
• The rise of formalism in the mid-20th century, as advocated by Clement Greenberg, helped to validate abstract expressionism as a serious artistic movement
• The writings of André Breton and the surrealist manifestos helped to define and promote the surrealist movement in the 1920s and 1930s
• Pop art and minimalism in the 1960s were both shaped by the critical debates surrounding the nature of art and the role of the artist
• Feminist art criticism in the 1970s and 1980s helped to bring attention to the work of women artists and challenge the male-dominated canon
• Postmodern art criticism, influenced by theories like deconstruction and poststructuralism, contributed to the development of conceptual art and appropriation art
• The rise of globalization and postcolonial theory in the late 20th century led to increased attention to non-Western art and the work of artists from diverse cultural backgrounds

Societal Influences and Cultural Perspectives

• Art criticism is shaped by the social, cultural, and political contexts in which it is produced and received
• In the 19th century, the rise of the middle class and the expansion of public education led to a growing audience for art criticism and a democratization of taste
• The political upheavals of the 20th century, such as the Russian Revolution and the two World Wars, influenced the development of art movements like constructivism and dada
• The civil rights movement and the rise of identity politics in the 1960s and 1970s led to increased attention to issues of race, gender, and sexuality in art criticism
• Postcolonial theory and the critique of Eurocentrism have challenged the dominance of Western art traditions and led to a more inclusive and diverse art world
• The rise of digital technologies and social media in the 21st century has transformed the production, dissemination, and reception of art criticism
• Globalization and the increasing interconnectedness of cultures have led to a growing interest in cross-cultural exchange and the hybrid nature of contemporary art
• The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the art world, leading to the closure of museums and galleries and the rise of virtual exhibitions and online art criticism

Contemporary Issues and Debates

• The role of the art critic in the age of social media and user-generated content is a subject of ongoing debate
• The increasing commercialization of the art world and the influence of the market on art production and reception have raised questions about the autonomy and integrity of art criticism
• The underrepresentation of women, people of color, and other marginalized groups in the art world and art criticism is a persistent issue that has led to calls for greater diversity and inclusion
• The rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning in art production has raised questions about the nature of creativity and the role of the human artist
• The environmental impact of art production and the responsibility of artists and art institutions to address climate change have become pressing concerns
• The repatriation of cultural artifacts and the decolonization of museums and art institutions are ongoing debates that have implications for art criticism and the interpretation of art history
• The role of art in social and political activism and the potential for art criticism to contribute to social change are subjects of ongoing discussion
• The impact of globalization on local art traditions and the homogenization of art practices across cultures have raised concerns about cultural diversity and authenticity

Practical Applications and Case Studies

• Art criticism plays a crucial role in the evaluation and selection of artworks for exhibitions, collections, and awards
• Museums and galleries rely on art criticism to provide context and interpretation for their exhibitions and to engage audiences
• Art critics often serve as jurors for art competitions and awards, such as the Turner Prize and the Venice Biennale
• Art criticism can help to establish the reputation and market value of individual artists and artworks
• Case study: The writings of Clement Greenberg played a significant role in the rise of abstract expressionism in the 1950s, particularly the work of Jackson Pollock
• Case study: Linda Nochlin's 1971 essay "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" challenged the gender bias in art history and helped to establish feminist art criticism as a legitimate field of study
• Case study: The critical reception of Jean-Michel Basquiat's work in the 1980s helped to bring attention to issues of race and identity in the art world and to challenge traditional notions of artistic genius
• Case study: The controversy surrounding Dana Schutz's painting "Open Casket" at the 2017 Whitney Biennial raised questions about cultural appropriation, artistic freedom, and the role of art criticism in navigating sensitive issues