What is the “analyze” step of an art critique? What would you include in this step?
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The first work of art that really struck me emotionally was Edward Hopper's "Automat" .
At first glance, it seems like a simple painting. And it is. But the subtext is really awesome.
I'm not by any means a painting (or art in general) connoisseur. Most times I think paintings range from "wow, it looks awesome" to "I could've done that" to "meh, it's a painting". But sometimes a few paintings stand out, and this one was one of it.
I kept looking at it for almost an hour, finding more and more details. The one glove missing, the blank stare at the coffee cup, the basket of fresh fruit (or plastic?) by the window.
But what definitely struck me the most was the overall loneliness that it made me feel.
I felt that I may know this woman, or could meet her on any coffee shop here in town. She looks disappointed, kind of beaten but not asking for help. Enduring it all by herself. Maybe she was stood up, maybe this is the coffee place where she stays in touch with her thoughts/emotions.
This woman will probably reject politely any try for help. This woman is any of us at some point in our lives. We're all alone inside our own heads, and sometimes feel alone in the real world.
Luckily the Wikipedia Article on the painting has some great insights.
I think this is THE purpose art should have. Make us feel, make us think. Simply thinking: "oh, it's pretty", is not enough. Art should make us better persons.
