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August 24, 2015 2 Comments

10 Artworks Perfect for an Art Criticism Lesson

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Through my many years of teaching, I’ve accumulated a nice list of artworks that are perfect to discuss with students and teach them how to analyze art. These artworks spark lots of interesting ideas, have easy to notice design choices that contribute to the meaning and always lead to a great art criticism discussion (or a great student-written essay) with the students.

Artworks for Stimulating Discussion

These artworks are great for high school and college students, but many work for elementary and middle as well. You can use your judgment to decide what works best for your students.

The Four Steps of Art Criticism Lesson Plan

I created this list for my lesson on the art criticism steps available for sale. The Four Steps of Art Criticism lesson teaches students how to analyze art through the art criticism steps of description, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation. This resource includes a lesson outline (pdf), a PowerPoint, a written assignment instructions handout (pdf and editable .doc), a quiz (pdf and editable .doc), and a list of artworks including (but not limited to) the ones below. Buy it now for $14, and use it in your classroom tomorrow!

The Four Steps of Art Criticism Lesson Plan

This lesson covers the four steps of art criticism using artworks. Explore description, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation with your students using engaging activities and examples.

Buy Now

Ten Artworks Perfect for Art Criticism with Students

Most of these are not in the public domain. I have included small thumbnails for your reference. Click the picture to view a larger image.

Marc Chagall, Young Girl in Pursuit, ca. 1927-28

Marc Chagall, Young Girl in Pursuit, ca. 1927-28
Marc Chagall, Young Girl in Pursuit, ca. 1927-28

This one is so simple and straight-forward, but it always sparks the imagination of the students.

Questions to Ask: How does this artwork make you feel? What choices does the artist make to make you feel that? Who is this woman? Why is there a woman in her hair? What is the meaning of this artwork?

Salvador Dalí, Persistence of Memory, 1931

Salvador Dalí, Persistence of Memory, 1931
Salvador Dalí, Persistence of Memory, 1931

Everyone knows this one. I read some study one time that said Salvador Dalí was the most recognized artist name among people interviewed on the street. I found that to be fascinating. From the melting clocks to the sleeping head, to the ants crawling all over the pocket watch, to is that a snake coming out of his nose?, this one has a lot for students to unpack.

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Find the full lesson from this post along with hundreds of other art teaching resources and trainings in the Curated Connections Library. Click here for more information about how to join or enter your email below for a free Artwork of the Week lesson from the membership!

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Get the Full Lesson!

This Lesson is in The Curated Connections Library!

Find the full lesson from this post along with hundreds of other art teaching resources and trainings in the Curated Connections Library. Click here for more information about how to join or enter your email below for a free Artwork of the Week lesson from the membership!

John Feodorov, Animal Spirit Channeling Device for the Contemporary Shaman, 1963

John Feodorov, Animal Spirit Channeling Device for the Contemporary Shaman, 1997
John Feodorov, Animal Spirit Channeling Device for the Contemporary Shaman, 1997

I wrote more about this one on the post: 5 Artworks to Intrigue your High Schooler.

Frida Kahlo, The Two Fridas, 1939

Frida Kahlo, The Two Fridas, 1939
Frida Kahlo, The Two Fridas, 1939

This one is also on 5 Artworks to Intrigue your High Schooler. Read more there. 🙂

Edvard Munch, Separation, 1896

Edvard Munch, Separation, 1896
Edvard Munch, Separation, 1896

Students love coming up with stories about this one. He is having a heart attack, and the woman is an angel taking him away. The woman is the ghost of his wife who has passed. And more, lots of great stories. The artist’s use of line, color, and contrast adds meaning to the student’s interpretations.

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This Lesson is in The Curated Connections Library!

Find the full lesson from this post along with hundreds of other art teaching resources and trainings in the Curated Connections Library. Click here for more information about how to join or enter your email below for a free Artwork of the Week lesson from the membership!

Join the List

Get the Full Lesson!

This Lesson is in The Curated Connections Library!

Find the full lesson from this post along with hundreds of other art teaching resources and trainings in the Curated Connections Library. Click here for more information about how to join or enter your email below for a free Artwork of the Week lesson from the membership!

Luis Felipe Noé, Cerrado por brujería [Closed by Sorcery], 1963

Luis Felipe Noé, Cerrado por brujería [Closed by Sorcery], 1963
Luis Felipe Noé, Cerrado por brujería [Closed by Sorcery], 1963


This is one of my all time top artworks to discuss with students. I usually show it on the first day of class in my community college art appreciation class. I wrote a whole post about it here.

Pablo Picasso, Girl before a Mirror, 1932

Pablo Picasso, Girl Before a Mirror, 1932
Pablo Picasso, Girl Before a Mirror, 1932

This painting made me weep when I saw it the first time. It’s stunning in person. Read more about it on 5 Artworks that Promote Introspection. This is a great one to have students write about at the beginning of class.

Lawrence Beall Smith, Don’t Let That Shadow Touch Them, 1942

Lawrence Beall Smith, Don’t Let That Shadow Touch Them, 1942
Lawrence Beall Smith, Don’t Let That Shadow Touch Them, 1942

I love connecting history and art. I include this piece of propaganda art on one of my tests for students to write about. You would be surprised how many students don’t recognize the swastika. In addition to discussing the power images have on our feelings and decision, the historical significance of the image is an important discussion to have with the students.

George Tooker, The Subway, 1950

George Tooker, The Subway, 1950
George Tooker, The Subway, 1950

Creepy, suspicious men and multiple perspectives make this one a fun one to talk about with students. The lone, solitary woman with the concerned expression makes us think, and why is she holding her stomach? Lots to talk about.

Kara Walker, Darkytown Rebellion, 2001

Kara Walker, Darkytown Rebellion, 2001
Kara Walker, Darkytown Rebellion, 2001

This one has some sensitive subject matter. I wouldn’t hesitate to use this for a college class, but only you can decide if it works for your students. I actually got in an argument with one of my friends in front of one of Kara Walker’s artworks like this one. I love art that sparks opinion and discussion. I don’t shy away from big topics in my classroom. Art opens up important dialogues, so I think it is important to let those happen in the classroom. After students look and figure out what is going on through art criticism, we discuss the element of the projection and how the viewer can become a part of the art by standing in between the light and the wall. It leads to some interesting thoughts.

Get the Full Lesson!

This Lesson is in The Curated Connections Library!

Find the full lesson from this post along with hundreds of other art teaching resources and trainings in the Curated Connections Library. Click here for more information about how to join or enter your email below for a free Artwork of the Week lesson from the membership!

Join the List

Get the Full Lesson!

This Lesson is in The Curated Connections Library!

Find the full lesson from this post along with hundreds of other art teaching resources and trainings in the Curated Connections Library. Click here for more information about how to join or enter your email below for a free Artwork of the Week lesson from the membership!

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Filed Under: Art and Artists
Tagged With: best of art class curator, edvard munch, frida kahlo, george tooker, john feodorov, kara walker, lawrence beall smith, luis felipe noe, marc chagall, pablo picasso, salvador dali

 

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Reader Interactions

2 Comments

  1. Nancy Sawyer

    September 4, 2015 at 1:24 pm

    Hello
    I enjoy you art lessons. I teach three year old students and I would like to know how to show them art and I would like to know how to ask the correct questions to help them think about art.
    Any help would be lovely.
    Nancy

    Reply to this comment to Nancy Sawyer" aria-label=' Reply to this comment to Nancy Sawyer'> Reply to this comment
    • Cindy, The Art Curator for Kids

      September 4, 2015 at 6:38 pm

      Hi Nancy! Here are some of my posts that might help you: How to Look at Art with Toddlers and Preschoolers, A video of me talking about art with my 2yo, 10 Activities to Engage with Works of Art, Another Video of me talking with my 2yo about art, and How to Look at Art with Kids. Hope this helps! 🙂

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