Art Criticism

Kyoto School Artist: Unknown

Deer, Pine, and Bat

Description

What can you learn from the title of the artwork?

The title teaches me that painting consists of illustrations of a deer, a pine,
and a bat.

Description

What subjects in the artwork can you recognize?

I recognize a deer, a pine, and a bat.

Description

Looking at the elements of design, describe what

qualities you see.
In the painting I see the elements of line and shape in the deer and line in
the tree.

Description

What media and techniques did the artist use?

The media in this painting is painting ink and the technique is realism.

Analysis

Emphasis: Is there a dominant element or focal point

that you see first?
The focal point in the painting is the big deer contrasting against the
paper.

Analysis

Balance: Is there a special balance, or weight, among

the elements? What mood does it create?
It seems heavier on the left side because all the artwork seems left centered.
It creates the mood of relaxation.

Analysis

Proportion: Do the proportions look normal, ideal, or

unusual? Why?
The proportion seems a bit unusually proportioned because there are
bodies scattered all about the paper with a lot of negative space.

Analysis

Pattern: Are elements repeated to create a pattern?

Where? Why?
There is pattern in the trees limbs: pine needles
There is also pattern in the spots on the deers coat.

Analysis

Rhythm or Movement: What visual rhythms or paths of

movement do your eyes follow? Where? Why?
The movement throughout the painting follows the largest limb in the tree
down through the rest of the tree, following the deers neck, body, and
finishing at its legs.

Analysis

Unity and Variety: What elements bring together, or

unify many parts of the design. Why? What elements
add variety? Why?
The element that unifies the painting is color. It unifies the painting
because everything is a bit scattered and almost irrelevant but the fact
that everything is similarly colored shows that it is the same scene.
Notwithstanding, the negative space throughout the artwork makes
everything look separate and adds variety.

Interpretation

Is there symbolism in the artwork? What do you think

it means?
The way the branches intertwine with the deers antlers and the bat living
in the underbrush of the pine represent how natures relationships within
itself are beautiful and made to coexist.

Interpretation

What feeling do you think the artist wanted to give the

viewer when looking at the work?
I believe the artist wanted the viewer to feel relaxed and at peace.

Interpretation

Does the work remind you of other things you have

experienced?
The artwork reminds me of the time I saw two deer in my backyard
leaping through the forest under the pines.

Interpretation

How does the work relate to other ideas or events in the

world and/or in your other classes?
I believe the artwork relates to themes in anime and other movements
through media intended to raise awareness of animals importance.

Judgment

What parts of the work make you feel it is a success or

failure?
The parts of the work that make me feel it is a success because the artists
pulled off adding to one anothers work and having so much negative

space.

Judgment

What criteria can you list to help others judge this

work?
-shading
-pattern
-balance

Judgment

How unique is the work? Why do you feel this work is

or is not unique?
I feel the work is very unique because each subject was painted by a
different artist.

Judgment

What are some improvements you feel the artist could

have made to the work?
I feel the artist could have filled up the negative space .