Subject and Content of Art

Introduction

• This topic discusses the subject of art, which is a

dynamic and forceful as man’s way of life,
culture, and imagination. The subject and
content of art never comes to an end and is never
fully worn out and exhausted. The clearness and
simplicity of the subject is vital since the content
of the art is the soul of every artistic creation of
masterpiece (Panisan, 2018).
Learning Outcomes

• differentiate content from subject

• classify artworks according to subject
• analyze how artists present their subjects in in
relation to the real subject.
• describe the sources and kinds of art
What are the subjects of arts?

• SUBJECT—refers to any person, object, scene or

event described or represented in a work of art.

• In general, the subject of an artwork is anything

under the sun.
REPRESENTATIONAL/OBJECTive ARTS

• are artworks that depict something easily

recognized by most people.
• They attempt to copy something that is
real. It also attempts to portray the subject
as it is.
Examples:

• 1. Still Life is a work of art depicting mostly

inanimate subject matter.
Examples:

• 1. Portrait is a painting, drawing, photograph or

engraving of a person.
Examples:

• 1. Landscape, Seascapes, Moonscapes and Cityscapes

Examples:

• 1. Mythology and Religion, Dreams and Fantasies

NON-REPRESENTATIONAL OR NON-OBJECTIVE ARTS

• are artworks that have no resemblance to any real

subject. They do not represent anything and they are
what they are. They rather appear directly to the senses
primarily because of the satisfying organization of their
sensuous and expensive elements
 METHODS OF PRESENTING THE ART SUBJECT

• 1. Realism – It is the attempt to

portray the subject as is. The artist
selects, changes, and arranges details
to express the idea he wants to make
clear.
• The artist main function is to
describe accurately what is observed
through the senses.
“Dalagang Bukid” Fernando Amorsolo
 METHODS OF PRESENTING THE ART SUBJECT

• 2.Symbolism – The
presentation of an invisible
sign such as an idea or a
quality into something
visible
 METHODS OF PRESENTING THE ART SUBJECT

• 3. Fauvism – Themes are

either ethical, philosophical,
or psychological. Subjects
express comfort, joy or
happiness.
 METHODS OF PRESENTING THE ART SUBJECT

• 4. Dadaism – A protest
movement formed in 1967 by
a group of artists in Zurich,
Switzerland.
 METHODS OF PRESENTING THE ART SUBJECT

• 5. Futurism – Its works aims to

capture the speed and force of
modern industrial society and to
glorify the mechanical energy of
modern life
 METHODS OF PRESENTING THE ART SUBJECT

• 5. Surrealism – It tries to
reveal a new and higher
reality of daily life. They aim
to create a magical world
more beautiful than the real
one through art.
 METHODS OF PRESENTING THE ART SUBJECT

• 6. Abstraction – “Abstract”
means to move away or
separate. Abstract art moves
away from showing things as
they really are
 Types of Abstraction

• Distortion – The subject is in

misshaped condition
 Types of Abstraction

• Elongation – The subject is

lengthened for protraction or
extension.
 Types of Abstraction

• Mangling – Subjects are either cut,

lacerated, mutilated, or hacked.
 Types of Abstraction

• Cubism – Subjects are shown in

basic geometrical shapes