Do you remember the last negative review you read?

The traditional art of negative criticism is vanishing from mainstream media, replaced by a culture of polite consensus or violent but unprincipled social media attacks. Historically, critics like Baudelaire, Zola, and Huysmans used sharp, subjective arguments to defend avant-garde movements and challenge academicism, viewing the attack on certain artists as a necessary byproduct of championing others. Today, limited editorial space and a desire to support the arts have led French journalists to focus almost exclusively on praise, resulting in a loss of discernment and comparative analysis.

This decline in critical rigor weakens the art world by flattening aesthetic discourse and avoiding necessary debates. By examining the recent reception of Mickalene Thomas at the Grand Palais, the author argues that failing to critically compare her work with more complex peers like Tschabalala Self or Noel W. Anderson leads to an uncritical celebration of kitsch. Reclaiming the right to provide reasoned negative critiques is presented as essential for maintaining the intellectual health and standards of contemporary art.