Campbells Soup

Parents and Students-How do you Critique Art??

o    Use your adjectives: How does the art look use describing words including the texture, color, size, shape, direction

o    Observations: State the facts (not opinions) What do you see? Describe using your adjectives

o    What do you think the artist was trying to get you to understand? To feel?

o    Openly Judge-Was the work successful? ( you don’t have to like it to feel it successfully conveyed a message)

§  Are you seeing the work from one of these points of view?

·         Emotionalist-emotions/feelings are controlling you

·         Formalist-how the object is made, visual aspects

·         Imitationalist- realism of the object

Describing the Art form -Pop art of Andy Warhol focusing on the Elements and Principals of Art in the Campbell’s Soup Can. He created this art work during the historical period after the Vietnam War when the American families’ budget was in financial strains.  The artist worked with the medium of silk screen which required the layering of paint on top of layers using a pressing movement (this technique is still used on various fabrics).

Warhol used various colors with simple hues including red, white black and a unique mixture of colors to create a golden hue. The can is created is a symmetrical cylindrical shape with the information panted in identical replication of the object (subject of the painting).

The focal point of the painting is the deep red hue painted at the top of the can which draws the eye in and is in striking contrast to the calming, cool color of white at the bottom of the can. The circular lines creates a whirlpool affect that is then, attracted to the linear lines of the can, drawing the eyes down ward to the bottom of the can focusing on the description of the type of the soup.  Warhol’s particular style of painting pop art remains a continued visual arts inspiration for generations to come.

Before viewing the art?

            What do you think was going on during this period of time (1960’s) when the art was produced?

            Many people are painters, why do you think Andy Warhol is so famous and admired?

While viewing the Art?

           Why do you think he chose a soup can to be the focus of his painting?

           Do you appreciate the replication of an actual object? Why or Why not?

           Why do you think that the Tomato soup can is the most famous of all of Andy

            Warhol’s Campbell’s soup paintings?

            What do you think the impact of the bold colors create when admiring the painting?

            Would you change the color of the painting? Why or Why not?

           How does this piece of work make you feel while you are looking at it?
      
           Do you think that this piece of art is worth one million dollars? Is that price justified?

After viewing the Art?

        Have you seen any paintings that might have been influenced by this piece of art by Andy Warhol?

        Do you think that you would enjoy meeting and interviewing Andy Warhol?