Pictorial Composition and the Critical Judgment of Pictures

"Pictorial Composition and the Critical Judgment of Pictures" by Henry Rankin Poore is an instructional guide focused on art theory from the early 1900s. The book is meant to show art students and enthusiasts how to understand the rules of pictorial composition and build their skills at judging art critically. Instead of a simple, step-by-step guide, the author wants to build a stronger knowledge of the key rules behind how an image is made up. He looks at ideas like balance, how everything fits together, and how your eyes move around an artwork. While doing so, Poore encourages thoughtful analysis of diverse artistic creations, moving beyond just admiring the old masters.