Classification and

Subjects of Art
Chapter 2
Classifications of Art
 Visual Arts: This includes art forms that primarily rely on visual elements,
such as painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and photography. Visual
arts can be both representational (depicting recognizable objects or
scenes) or abstract (exploring form, color, and texture).
 Performing Arts: This includes art forms that are primarily intended to be
performed live, such as theater, dance, music, and opera. Performing arts
rely on a combination of physical movement, sound, and visual elements
to create an immersive experience for the audience.
 Literary Arts: This includes art forms that use language to create
meaning, such as poetry, prose, drama, and other written forms of artistic
expression. Literary arts often explore complex themes and ideas through
narrative, metaphor, and symbolism.
 Digital Arts: This includes art forms that rely on digital technology, such as
digital painting, video art, and computer-generated animation. Digital art
can combine elements of visual arts, performing arts, and literary arts to
create immersive and interactive experiences.
Classifications of Art
 Pop Arts: This includes art forms that incorporate elements of popular
culture, such as advertising, comics, and mass-produced consumer
goods. Pop art often uses bright colors and bold graphics to create
visually striking images that comment on consumer culture and society.
 Gustatory Arts: This includes art forms that involve food and drink, such
as culinary arts, mixology, and wine tasting. Gustatory arts combine
elements of taste, texture, and aroma to create sensory experiences that
can be both aesthetic and functional.
 Decorative Arts: This includes art forms that are primarily intended to
be functional or decorative, such as ceramics, glass art, textiles, jewelry,
and furniture design. Decorative arts combine aesthetic and utilitarian
elements to create objects that can be used in daily life while also
expressing beauty and creativity.
Subject Types
 Representational: Representational art, also known as figurative art,
refers to artwork that depicts recognizable objects or subjects from
the real world. This can include landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and
other depictions of people, animals, and objects. Representational
art can be highly realistic, as in a classical oil painting, or more
stylized, as in a comic book or cartoon.
 Non-Representational: Non-representational art, also known as
abstract art, refers to artwork that does not attempt to depict
recognizable objects or subjects from the real world. Instead, non-
representational art focuses on elements like color, line, and form,
and seeks to create an emotional or aesthetic response in the viewer.
This can include works like Jackson Pollock's drip paintings, Mark
Rothko's color field paintings, or Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirror Rooms,
among others.
Sources and Kinds of subject
 Historical: This subject type depicts events, people, or places from
history, such as battles, political figures, and historical sites.
 Still-life: This subject type depicts inanimate objects arranged in a
composition, such as fruits, flowers, and household items.
 Animals and plants: This subject type depicts various species of animals
and plants in their natural habitats or in a stylized representation.
 Portraits and figures: This subject type focuses on the human form,
including portraits, figures in action, and representations of the body.
 Nature: This subject type depicts the natural environment, including
landscapes, seascapes, and other natural phenomena.
 Landscape: This subject type focuses specifically on the depiction of
natural or urban landscapes.
 Seascape: This subject type depicts the sea or ocean, including
seascapes and marine life.
Sources and Kinds of subject
 Cityscape: This subject type depicts urban environments, including
skylines, streets, and buildings.
 Events: This subject type depicts specific events, such as celebrations,
festivals, and cultural events.
 Mythology: This subject type draws inspiration from mythology and
folklore, including representations of gods and goddesses.
 Fiction: This subject type draws inspiration from literature or fictional
stories, such as illustrations for books and graphic novels.
 Dreams and fantasies: This subject type depicts surreal or imaginative
scenes inspired by dreams, fantasies, or the subconscious mind.
Methods of presenting the subjects

Realism is characterized by the depiction of subjects as

they appear in reality, often emphasizing the details of
everyday life.

"Planting Rice" (1940)

by Fernando Amorsolo

Surrealism emphasizes the subconscious

mind and dreams, often depicting strange,
dreamlike scenes that challenge
traditional notions of reality.

“When Horses Gallop”

(1975)
by Andres Barrioquinto
Methods of presenting the subjects

Cubism involves the fragmentation and re-

assembly of forms in a two-dimensional space,
often using geometric shapes and multiple
perspectives.

"Candle Vendors"
(1976)
by Vicente
Manansala
Expressionism is characterized by bold, exaggerated
brushwork, vivid colors, and a subjective, emotional
interpretation of the subject matter. Expressionists
sought to convey a sense of the artist's inner emotions
and psychological states through their paintings. They
often used distortion and abstraction to convey a sense
of the inner turmoil and angst.
“Woman Portrait” (1977)
by Onib Olmedo
Methods of presenting the subjects
Impressionism characterized by the use of loose brushstrokes,
an emphasis on the play of light and color, and a focus on the
immediate visual impression of the subject matter.
Impressionists sought to capture the fleeting moment and the
effects of light and atmosphere on the subject. They often
worked outdoors, preferring to paint directly from nature.

“Young Filipina”
(1928)
by Fabian Dela
Rosa
Symbolism uses symbolism and metaphor
to explore philosophical and spiritual
ideas. It features suggestive or abstract
images, which are intended to represent
deeper, hidden meanings

“The Builders”
by Victorio
Edades
Methods of presenting the subjects

Pointillism involves the use of small, distinct dots of

color to create an image when viewed from a distance.

“Femme à l'ombrelle
(Woman with Umbrella)”
(1893)
by Paul Signac

Futurism was an avant-garde art movement that

originated in Italy in the early 20th century. It was
founded by the poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti in 1909,
who published the "Futurist Manifesto," a manifesto that
called for a rejection of traditional artistic conventions
and a celebration of modern technology and
‘‘The Revolt’’ 1911 industrialization. Characterized by its use of dynamic
by Luigi Russolo lines, bright colors, and abstract forms to depict
movement and speed
Methods of presenting the subjects
Minimalism involves a reduction of forms to
their most essential elements, often featuring
simple shapes, monochromatic colors, and a
focus on negative space.
“Cities Of The Past” (1990s)
by Arturo Luz

Fauvism was an art movement that emerged in France at

the turn of the 20th century. It is characterized by its
bold, vivid colors and expressive brushstrokes, which
were used to capture the intensity of emotion and the
energy of modern life. The term "fauvism" comes from
the French word "fauve," meaning "wild beast," which
was used by critics to describe the movement's bold use
of color.
“Woman with a Hat”
(1905)
by Henri Matisse
 Methods of presenting the subjects
Dadaism was an avant-garde art movement that emerged in Europe
during World War I, with its origins in Switzerland. The movement
rejected traditional artistic conventions and embraced irrationality
and nonsense, often using satire and humor to challenge social and
political norms. Dadaism is characterized by its use of collage,
assemblage, and readymade objects, as well as its rejection of
traditional art forms like painting and sculpture.
"L.H.O.O.Q." (1919)
by Marcel Duchamp

Pure abstractionism focuses on non-representational

forms and colors, emphasizing the physical properties of
the medium over any attempt at representation.

“Space Transfiguration” (1959)

by Jose Joya