GE 105 (Art Appreciation)

Lesson 4: Subject and Content in Art

In almost all art forms—painting, sculpture, photography, music, literature, theater, or
dance—there is a subject that serves as the foundation of the creation of the work of art. The
subject matter is the most obvious aspect of an artwork. It is what the work of art depicts or
represents. It may be a person, an object, a scene or an event. The subject provides the answer to
the question: What is the work of art all about?
The subject matter of art should not be a basis for judging works of art. It doesn’t mean
that representational arts are superior to non-representational arts. Some arts have a subject,
others do not. Furthermore, works that depict pleasant subjects are not necessarily greater than
works that depict unpleasant subjects. What matters most in art is not the subject matter, but how
well the artist handles or presents that subject matter in his or her work.
Subject vs. Content
The subject matter is the literal, visible image in a work while content includes the
connotative, symbolic, and suggestive aspects of the image. The subject matter is the subject of
the artwork, e.g., still life, portrait, landscape, etc. while content is not subject or things in the
work of art but it is the communication of ideas, feelings, and reactions connected with the
subject. When we look at an artwork its content is what is sensed rather than what can be
analyzed. It is the ultimate reason for creating art.
Types of Visual Art According to Subject
There are two basic types of Visual Art according to the subject matter. These types are
representational or figurative art and non-representational or non-objective art.
Representational/Figurative Art
Representational artwork aims to represent actual objects or subjects from reality. They
are artworks which are based on images which can be found in the objective world, or at least in
the artist’s imagination; i.e., images which can perhaps be named or recognized.
Representational art is the easiest to identify from a viewer’s perspective. It also represents the
largest collection of artwork created and has gone through many phases and movements, yet the
principle of presenting the viewer with recognizable subject matter has stayed the same.
Painting, sculpture, graphic arts, literature, and theater arts are generally classified as
representational, although some paintings and sculpture are without subjects.
Non-Representational/Non-Objective Art
Non-objective art is another way to refer to non-representational art. Essentially, the
artwork does not represent or depict a person, place, or thing in the natural world. Usually, the
content of the work is its color, shapes, brushstrokes, size, scale, and in some cases, its process.
 Many people have difficulty in understanding the differences between abstract art and
non-objective art. The clear difference lies in the subject matter chosen. If the artist begins with a
subject from reality, the artwork is considered to be abstract. If the artist is creating with no
reference to reality, then the work is considered to be non-objective,
Architecture is mostly non-objective or non-representational. It does not depict or portray
a subject. It is its own form. Music is also mostly non-objective or non-representational although
some music depicts a subject.