Art criticism encompasses several major approaches, each offering unique perspectives and methods of analysis:

1. **Formalism**: This approach focuses on the visual aspects of an artwork, such as composition, color, line, shape, and texture. Formalists analyze how these elements are organized and how they contribute to the overall aesthetic experience, without considering context or meaning.

2. **Contextualism**: Contextual critics examine the historical, cultural, social, and political contexts in which an artwork was created. They explore how these external factors influence the meaning and significance of the artwork, considering the artist’s background, the time period, and societal influences.

3. **Iconography and Iconology**: This method involves interpreting symbols and motifs within the artwork to uncover deeper meanings. Iconographers identify and describe these symbols, while iconologists delve into the cultural and historical significance behind them, linking visual elements to broader narratives.

4. **Marxist Criticism**: Marxist critics analyze art through the lens of class struggle, economic conditions, and power dynamics. They explore how art reflects, reinforces, or challenges societal structures and ideologies, often focusing on themes of oppression, inequality, and resistance.

5. **Feminist Criticism**: This approach examines how gender influences the creation, representation, and reception of art. Feminist critics analyze the portrayal of women, the

role of female artists, and the power dynamics between genders, challenging patriarchal norms and advocating for gender equality in the art world.

6. **Psychoanalytic Criticism**: Rooted in the theories of Freud and Jung, this approach explores the psychological dimensions of art. Critics analyze how unconscious desires, fears, and traumas manifest in artworks, considering the artist’s psyche and the symbolic meanings embedded in the visual content.

7. **Postmodern Criticism**: Postmodern critics question traditional narratives and embrace plurality, ambiguity, and diversity. They often challenge established canons and hierarchies, focusing on deconstruction, irony, pastiche, and the interplay between high and low culture.

8. **Phenomenology**: This approach emphasizes the viewer’s experience and perception of the artwork. Phenomenological critics explore how art engages the senses and emotions, considering the subjective and embodied responses of the audience.

These approaches differ primarily in their focus and methodology. Formalism prioritizes visual elements, while contextualism and iconography consider external and symbolic meanings. Marxist, feminist, and psychoanalytic criticisms emphasize social, gender, and psychological dimensions, respectively. Postmodernism challenges traditional boundaries, and phenomenology centers on personal experience. Each approach offers valuable insights, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of art.