A presentation delivered at the Art Education Studio 1 at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi - Ghana

1. ART CRITICISM
A COMPREHENSIVE CRITIQUE OF A
PAINTING
PRESENTATION BY:
ENOCK IMPRAIM – SWANZY
INDEX NUMBER: PG9200713
MPHIL AFRICAN ART AND CULTURE
KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

2. Outline
• Description
• Analysis
•Interpretation
•Judgment

3. Description
BON “After bathe” 2013 Acrylic on Canvas
929cm x 1209cm
• Artist – Benjamin Offei - Nyarko
• Subject Matter – Figurative painting
• Elements used – colour
line
texture
shape
space
• Technique – impasto technique
pallete knife was used for
the painting

4. Analysis
• Balance – formal balance
(position of the human figure
and space
• Proportion – size of the human
figure
• Rhythm/movement – hair,
drapery and the background
• Emphasis – the skin
• Focus – the hair and the choice
of colour
• There is distance ( aerial
perspective) created the
foreground and background also
gives you the effect of distance.
BON “After bathe” 2013 Acrylic on Canvas
929cm x 1209cm

5. Interpretation
BON “After bathe” 2013 Acrylic on Canvas
929cm x 1209cm
• Single figure composition (half nude)
• Coolness in terms of colour
• Relaxed mood of the facial
expression
• The choice of colour for the skin is
metaphorical and non – naturalistic
• He used the fauvist approach (vivid
expressionistic and non – naturalistic
use of colour.
• The figure look calm emotionally and
this is seen in the posture and the
colour scheme.

6. Judgement
BON “After bathe” 2013 Acrylic on Canvas
929cm x 1209cm
• The work is a painting of a
human figure (semi nude) which
is sorely for decorative purpose
(art for art sake).
• The painting is an expression of
an emotion (depressed Ghanaian
woman sitting quietly after
taking his bathe). It falls under
the emotionalist theory
• The work is a good work because
of the style and technique used.
It is not the usual painting style
(realistic) we normally see
around.
• He used the fauvist approach
thus vivid expressionistic and
non naturalistic use of colour.

7. Thank You

8. Enock Impraim – Swanzy
Department of General Art Studies
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi
– Ghana
Email: eimpraimswanzy@yahoo.com