MODULE 3: SUBJECT AND CONTENTS OF ART

 In viewing art, there are clues that mediate between the artwork and the viewer, allowing the viewer to more
easily comprehend what he is seeing.
 These clues are the three basic components of an artwork:
 Subject – the visual focus of the image that may be extracted from examining the artwork; the “what”
 Content – the meaning that is communicated by the artist or the artwork; the “why”
 Form – the development and the configuration of the artwork – how the elements or the medium or
material are put together; the “how”

The Subject of Art

 Subject of art is what an artist chooses to present in his/her art. It is the expression of artist’s view of his/her
existence in his/her art. It is the theme or topic of the artist in his/her art. The term subjects in art refers to the
main idea that is represented in the artwork. The subject in art is basically the essence of the piece. To
determine subject matter in a particular piece of art, ask yourself: What is actually depicted in this artwork?
What is the artist trying to express to the world... what is his or her message? And how are they conveying that
message?

Types of Subject

 Representational Art
 These types of art have subjects that refer to objects or events occurring in the real world.
 Also termed figurative art because the figures depicted are easy to make out and decipher.
Ex: Mona Lisa (Leonardo da Vinci, 1503)
 Despite not knowing who Mona Lisa is, it is clear that the painting is of a woman that is
realistically-proportioned;
 Only the upper torso is shown
 A beguiling and mysterious smile is flashed;
 The background is a landscape

 Non-representational Art
 Art forms that do not make a reference to the real world, whether it is a person,
place, thing, or even a particular event.
 It is stripped down to visual elements, such as shapes, lines and colors
that are employed to translate a particular feeling, emotion, and even
concept.

Non-Representational Art and Abstract Art

 Is non-representational art the same with abstract art?
 There is no clear-cut divide, rather, they exist in a spectrum

 Looking at the combination of lines, shapes, and colors of the

sculpture will point to a head of a woman
 Even with the abstraction of the image, this work is arguably
representational art
SOURCES AND KINDS OF SUBJECT
 For non-representational art, a higher level or perceptiveness and insight may be required to fully grasped the
feeling, emotion, or concept behind the work.
 For representational art, it is easier to infer the subject matter because from the figured depicted in the artwork,
there is already a suggestion as to its implication.

SOURCES OF SUBJECT
 Nature
 History
 Greek and Roman Mythology
 Judeo-Christian Tradition
 Sacred Oriental Texts
 Other works of art

If you really ask in a plain way what can be sources of art subjects, EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF YOU, would be the answer.
Everything that made you INSPIRED with.

 Physical Environment
 Artists have always been fascinated with the beauty of their physical environment. They would observe nature
on its beautiful and restful mood, and apply pigments on canvass on varying textures and colors.
 Greek and Roman Mythology
 The Greek and Roman Mythology are also rich source of art subject. Stories from Greek and Roman Mythology
centers on the gods, goddesses and heroes.
 Religion
 Religion has played an enormous role in inspiring roles of visual arts, music, architecture and literature through
ages. During the prehistoric era, the medieval and the present time, there was no difference between religion
and art
 Nature
 Animals, people, landscapes
 The most common inspiration and subject matter of art
 Could be the subject and content of both literary and visual arts

KINDS OF SUBJECT
 History
 Still Life
 Animals
 Figures
 Nature
 Landscape
 Seascape
 Mythology
 Myths
 Dreams
 Fantasies
 5 MAIN SUBJECTS THAT ARTISTS HAVE EXPLORING IN ART FOR CENTURIES
 Still Life – A collection of inanimate objects arranged together in a specific way.
 Landscape – natural scenery such as mountains, cliffs, rivers, etc.
 Portraiture – an image of a particular person or animal, or group thereof
 Abstract – a non-representational work of art
 Nature – a focused view or interpretation of specific natural elements

WAYS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT

a. Realism
b. Abstraction
c. Expressionism
d. Futurism
e. Surrealism
f. Fauvism
g. Dadaism
h. Symbolism

- REALISM
 It concerns with the depiction of subjects as they appear in everyday life
 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’s main function is to describe accurately what is observed through the senses.

- ABSTRACTION
 It refers to art unconcerned with the literal depiction of things from
the visible world
 It means to move away from showing things as they really are. The
artwork is not realistic.

WAY OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT (ABSTRACTION)

a. Distortion
b. Elongation
c. Mangling
d. Cubism
 e. Abstract Expressionism

a. Distortion
 It is the alteration of the original shape of an object, image or other form of representation.
 The subject is in misshaped condition
b. Elongation
 The subject or painting is being lengthened or extended
 The subject is lengthened for protraction or extension
c. Mangling
 It shows subjects or objects which are cut, mutilated, lacerated, or hacked.
d. Cubism
 Objects are broken up, analyzed, and re-assembled in an abstracted form
 Subjects are shown in the basic geometrical shapes
 Uses cone, cylinder, sphere or other pictorial elements
e. Abstract Expressionism
 Uses large canvasses
 Lack of refinement in the application of paint, strong color uneven brush and rough texture

- EXPRESSIONISM
 It presents the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order
to evoke mood or ideas.
- FUTURISM
 It emphasizes and glorifies themes associated with contemporary concepts of the future, including speed
and technology
 Its works aims to capture the speed and force of modern industrial society and to glorify the mechanical
energy of modern life.
- SURREALISM
 It tries to reveal a new and higher reality than that of daily life. They claim to create a magical world more
beautiful than the real one through art. It came from the slang of supper realism.
 It uses arts as weapon against the evils and restrictions that surrealists see in the society.
 It is a combination of distortion and realism.
- FAUVISM
 Themes are either ethical, philosophical, or psychological
 It uses extremely bright color
 Most of the fauves tried to paint pictures of COMFORT, JOY, AND PLEASURE
- DADAISM
 A protest movement formed in 1916 by a group of artists in Zurich, Switzerland. They try to provoke the
public with outrageous forms of arts. Came from the French word “dada” meaning “hobby horse”. Dadaist
reacted to what they believe were outworn traditions in art and the evils they saw in the society; shows
outrageous pieces of writing poetry and art exhibitions.
- SYMBOLISM
 trying to symbolize something
 Trying to represent something from the real world but not its literal depiction

CONTENT IN ART
 The meaning and message that is expressed or communicated by the artwork
 In understanding the content of art, it is important to note that there are various levels of meaning:
1. Factual Meaning – the most rudimentary level of meaning for it may be extracted from the identifiable
or recognizable forms in the artwork and understanding how these elements relate to one another.
 2. Conventional Meaning – pertains to the acknowledged interpretation of the artwork using motifs, signs,
and symbols, and other cyphers as bases of its meaning. These conventions are established through
time, strengthened by recurrent use and wide acceptance by its viewers or audience and scholars who
study them.
3. Subjective Meaning – when subjectivities are consulted, a variety of meanings may arise when a
particular work of art is read.
- These meanings stem from the viewer’s or audience’s circumstances that come into play when
engaging with art (what we know, what we learned, what we experienced; what values we
stand for)
- Meaning may not be singular, rather, multiple and varied
4. Analysis
- Subject: biblical art
- Factual Meaning: creation story (creation of man)
- Conventional Meaning: mas was created in the image and likeness of God
- Subjective Meaning: endowment of intellect to man from God.

Synthesis/Generalizations:

1. Subject of art is what an artist chooses to present in his/her art; it is the expression of artist’s view of his/her
existence in his her art. It is the theme or topic of the artist in his/her art
2. The content of art refers to the meaning contained in it. It comes in three levels of meaning, factual,
conventional and subjective.