ten questions to ask yourself when looking at art

okay, i'm going to be completely up front with you about this. these are actually questions that i ask kids when they are looking at art. i volunteer for a program that encourages children to simply look at art and tell us what they see.* and it really is as simple as that. so i have adopted a series of questions i use in the classroom to create this list. i encourage you to call upon the child in you and answer these questions next time you are admiring a classical work of fine art or peering at a befuddling contemporary piece.

jan van eyck. untitled (arnolfini wedding portrait). oil on oak panel. 1434.

one | what do you see?

two | what else do you see?

three | how does it make you feel?

four | why does it make you feel that way?

five | what do you think the story is if there is one?

six | what do you think happened right before this "moment" occurred?

seven | what do you think the artist was feeling?

eight | if you don't recognize any real life shapes, then what do you see?

nine | do you like this?

ten | why do you like it or not like it?

and voila! you have just deconstructed a masterful work of art. and the secret is...there are no wrong answers!

* my husband, who calls himself a neanderthal when it comes to art, has put his stamp of approval on this method of mine.