Interpretation is the most critical task of art criticism, but we recommend no prescribed order to follow. The work of art itself should guide the approach to inquiry. Interpretations are persuasive arguments. Some interpretations are better than others. Good interpretations of art tell more about the artwork than they tell about the critic.
Feelings are guides to interpretations.
There can be different, competing, and contradictory interpretations of the same artwork. Interpretations are often based on a world view. Interpretations are not so much absolutely right, but more or less reasonable, convincing, enlightening, and informative. Interpretations can be judged by coherence, correspondence, and inclusiveness. An artwork is not necessarily about what the artist wanted it to be about.