ART APPRECIATION
Lesson 4: Functions of Art
FUNCTIONS OF ART
-Art serves several functions that are
corollary to its purposes. These functions include but
are not limited to the following: personal or
individual, social, economic, political, historical,
cultural, religious, physical and aesthetic.
Artist have their own personal reasons for indulging
in art. The English poet Robert Browning expressed
his love to Elizabeth Barrett-Browning in the form of
a poem entitled “My Last Duchess,” Elizabeth did the
same by means of the poem entitled “How Do I Love
Thee?” Another poet, Edwin Markham, wrote the
poem “The Man with the Hoe” because he was
inspired by the painting of a farmer that he had
seen.
Man is a social being and as such he associates with
this fellow being. This association is evidenced by the
choral singing and group dancing in religious rites
and other practices.
Many people believe that does not pay to be an
artist. However, this belief is negated by these facts.
Joanne K. Rowling, the author of the best-selling
Harry Potter series, became one of the most highly-
paid women in British history. Elvis Presley and
Michael Jackson raked millions for their best-selling
records. Paintings of great painters such as Da Vinci
and Bounarroti are worth millions of dollars now.
GMA-7 spent millions of pesos for the set of “Indio”
and the costume of Richard Gutierrez in “Captain
Barbel.”
When Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, a patroness of the
arts became the Governor of Metro Manila, she
promoted her political programs by means of the
arts. Part of her beautification program was the
painting of murals along national roads and busy
streets frequented by motorists.
Painting, sculptures, architectural works and other
art forms serve to record historical figures and
events. Paintings of French kings, sculptures of
Philippine heroes, tombs of rulers, and religious
plays, for example, the cenaculo not only
commemorate but also celebrate historical events.
Buildings, furniture, clothes, and the like form part of
the country’s material culture, while music, dance,
language, which is incorporated in oral and written
literature and drama, form part of its non-material
culture. Therefore, paintings, sculptures,
architectural works, songs, dances, dramas, and
literary pieces are embodiments of a national
culture.
Almost all, not all, art forms evolved from religion.
People in the olden times worshipped their gods in
the form of songs and dances. The earliest dramatic
forms were religious in nature. The first Greek
paintings and sculptures were those of gods and
goddesses.
Houses and other buildings are constructed to
protect their occupants. At times, paintings serve to
protect the walls and ceilings of some buildings,
while sculpture serves as columns of some buildings
as in Greek and Roman architecture.
Artworks serve to beautify. Paintings and sculptures
serve to decorate houses, buildings, churches, and
similar edifices. Tall buildings are sights to behold.
Set designs as well as costumes and props, make
dramas, dance performances, and song traditions
not only realistic but also appealing to the audience.
ART APPRECIATION
-Is the ability to interpret or understand
man-made arts and enjoy them either through
actual and work-experience with art tools and
materials or possession of these works of art one’s
admiration and satisfaction.
THE SUBJECT OF ART
-A subject of art is usually anything that is
represented in the artwork. It may be a person,
object, scene, or event.
-Artworks that depict something easily
recognized by most people ae called
representational or objective arts.
-Artworks that have no resemblance to any
real subject ae called non-representational or non-
objective arts.