SUBJECT

and
CONTENT
Subject
•What the work represents
•A person, a scene or an event
Representational or Objective Arts
•Artworks that have subjects
Non-representational Arts
•Artworks that do not have
subjects
 Why do some
painters opt for
non-objective art?
Sources of
Subjects
Why are Art
Subjects
important?
Nature
•Most popular source of
objective art
People
•Most interesting
•People that are depicted can offer clues
to the artists’ thoughts, moods and the
genre the art work is presenting.
History
•Depicts real events which are
verifiable facts that occurred in
the past
•Purpose: Commemorate events
Legends
•Artworks based on legends present
to viewers of the art something
tangible even when unverified.
•Brings “LIFE” to these stories
Religion
•Artworks that are based on
sacred context like the Holy
Bible, the Quran of Islam and
Torah of Judaism
Mythology
•Artworks can be based on the
stories of the gods and goddesses
of Ancient Greece, Rome, Celts,
Norse and the Egyptians.
Dreams and Fantasy
•The intrigue of the unconscious also
inspires artists to present it through
art for others to see, relate and
interpret.
Technology
•The modern era with tall
buildings and amazing machines
•Cityscapes, airplanes cars etc.
Activity:
•½ Yellow Pad Crosswise
•If you were to be a famous
artist, what kind of subject
would you choose to do? Why?
 Ways of
Presenting the
Art
Naturalism
•Was a broad movement in 19th century
which represented things closer to the way
we see them.
•Considered as the extreme type of
realism
•This movement suggested the roles of
the family, social conditions and
 Realism
• Depicts the artist’s attempt of portraying the
subject as it is.
• Realists try to be as objective as possible in
their presentation.
• Work seem so real, just like a photograph
• Most Popular way in presenting art
Abstraction
• Abstract means “to move away or to separate
from”
• Subject presentation moves away from reality,
from presenting the subject as it really is.
• It involves process of simplifying and
reorganizing the work.
a. Distortion
• Figures have been arranged that its proportion
differ significantly from reality.
• This is manifested when the subject is
misshapen or twisted out
• It is done to dramatize the shape of the figure or
to create an emotional effect
b. Elongation
•The subject is stretched vertically
or some parts are lengthened to
give impression of thinness
 c. Mangling
•This shows subject or objects
which are cut, lacerated, mutilated
or hacked with repeated blows
d. Cubism
•Use of figures like a cone, cylinder,
sphere, etc.
•Wants to show forms in their basic
geometrical shapes
Symbolism
• Symbol is defined as visible sign of
something invisible such as idea or quality.
• Symbols in art draws the viewers’
attention to what other message the
artist may be trying to convey
•What makes Da
Vinci’s Mona Lisa,
the most popular
painting in the
world?
Fauvism
•Began in France, and was first
organized in the 1900
•Fauvism means “Wild Beasts”
•Did not express ethical, philosophical or
psychological themes
•Used bright colors (that do not reflect
Dadaism
• Dada is for hobby horse
•Art movement that doesn’t follow
traditions and principles in art.
•Aims to show weakness in the society
•Tries to shock and provoke the public
with outrageous pieces
Futurism
• Began in Italy
•Artist wanted to capture the speed and
force of the modern industrial society.
•Highlight technologies of modern life
Surrealism
•Surrealism is an invented word for super
realism
•Began in Paris in 1924 by Andre Breton
•Emphasized the activities of the
subconscious mind
•Attempts to show man’s inners mind and
Expressionism
•Art Movement occurred during the first
decade of the 20 century in Germany
th

•Expressionists believe that man needs

spiritual rebirth for him to corrects defects
that ruin society
•Depicts the emotions aroused by objects
and events