GE 6 ART APPRECIATION
UNIT II
SUBJECT AN
D CONTENT
OF ART
REPARED BY: COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES-SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT OF ART
The term subject in art refers to the main
idea that is represented in the artwork. It is
the essence of the piece.
• It is the matter to be described or to be
portrayed by the artist.
• This may refer to any person, object, scene or
event.
SUBJECT OF ART
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?
TWO KINDS OF ARTS
AS TO SUBJECT
REPRESENTATIONAL OR
OBJECTIVE ART
Depicts objects that are
commonly recognized by
most people
Two Kinds Attempt to copy what is real
of Arts or portray the subject as it is.
as to Subje Uses “form” and are
ct concerned with “what” is to
be depicted
NON-REPRESENTATIONAL
OR NON-OBJECTIVE ART
Without any reference or
recognizable objects
Abstract; does not represent
Two Kinds real objects
of Arts Uses “content” and is
as to Subje concerned with “how” the
ct artwork is depicted
The artist and his choice
Everything under the sun is raw material
01 for the artist to draw his subject.
The artist’s choice of subject is
02 usually affected by his medium.
The piece of art depends largely
03 upon the time in which he lived.
Sources of Subject of Art
1 2 Greek and
Roman 3 4 Sacred
Oriental 5
Nature History Mythology Religion Text
Most Historical Myths or Anything Sacred texts of
common people, Definite that Hinduism,
inspiration events, parts of represents Buddhism,
and Taoism,
periods. inheritance spiritual
subject. Confucianism,
beliefs and Zoroastrianism
doctrines. , Jainism, and
E.g. animals,
people, Islam.
activities,
landscape…
Subject
of Art may be:
Landscape,
seascapes, cityscapes
Subject
of Art may be:
Still life
inanimate objects arranged in indoor
setting
Subject
of Art may be:
Animals
Subject
of Art may be:
Portraits
the realistic likeness of a person.
Attire, accessories are very much
expressive because they reveal so
much of the person and his time.
Subject
Figures
of Art may be: nude/ clothed
GREEKS – physical beauty
was the symbol of m
oral and spiritual
perfection.
Subject
of Art may be:
Everyday Life
life around the artist, or the actual setting.
E.g. children playing, life at the park
Subject
of Art may be:
History and Legends
HISTORY – consist of verifiable facts
LEGENDS – unverifiable but they have
been accepted as true
Subject
of Art may be:
Religion and Mythology
used to preach and teach
Art – handmaid of religion
Subject
of Art may be:
Dreams and Fantasy
mostly used by surrealist painters
WAYS OF PRESENTING
THE SUBJECT
This often refers to
the artistic movement
that began in France
in the 1850s.
REALISM
Realism's popularity
increased with the
advent of the
photography-a new
visual medium that
generated people's
desire to develop
"objectively real" things
REALISM
Through abstract art,
the artist presents the
subject in no way as an
objective fact, but just
his idea or his feeling
(exaggerated
emotionalism) about it.
ABSTRACTION
It's all about what the
artists are thinking and
what mood they may
want to reflect.
ABSTRACTION
A symbol is a clear
indication that
anything like an idea
or a standard is
invisible.
SYMBOLISM
Symbolism uses
symbols to
systematically focus or
amplify meaning,
rendering the artwork
more subjective (rather
than objective) and
traditional.
SYMBOLISM
It is derived from the
French "les fauves,"
which means
"the wild beasts."
FAUVISM
It is the last part of the
19th-century artistic
movement that
stressed spontaneity
and the use of
excessively bright
colors
FAUVISM
The word "dada" is a
French word which
means “hobby-horse”.
A hobby-horse is the
children's pet toy made
of a wooden horse
mounted on a stick.
DADAISM
We may claim it with
this etymology dadaism
is a "nonsensical" art
movement. Some
would say it is not art
since it appears to have
absolutely no sense
DADAISM
Described as a
modernist movement
embracing the future
age of technology.
FUTURISM
The automobile, the
aircraft, the industrial
town reflected the
development of urban
life and the
technological success of
A Man beyond Nature.
FUTURISM
It is an offshoot or a
dada boy. Sometimes
known as
"super realism”, which
revolves around the
process of making
things look ordinary
exceptional
SURREALISM
It focuses on actual
objects found in
imagination or fantasy,
or it has realistic
subjects found in the
subconsciousness;
illustrating the inner
mind's dreamlike images
SURREALISM
It's also often called optical
realism because of its
interest in the actual visual
experience, including
things such as the
influence of color, light and
motion on the nature of the
objects portrayed in the
works of art.
IMPRESSIONISM
Impressionism
centered on explaining
the visual stimuli
originating from nature,
directly.
IMPRESSIONISM
CONTENT OF ART
It is the meaning, message
and/or feeling imparted by a work
of art.
CONTENT OF ART
It is the mass of ideas associated with
each artwork and communicated through
the following:
• The Arts’ imagery
• The symbolic meaning
• Its surroundings where it is used or displayed
• The customs, beliefs and values of the culture
that uses it
• Writings that help explain the work
THREE LEVELS OF MEANING
ACCORDING TO CLEAVER (1966):
FACTUAL MEANING
Literal statement or the
narrative content in the work
which can be directly understood
because the objects presented
are easily recognized.
CONVENTIONAL MEANING
Special meaning that a certain
object or color has for a
particular culture or a group of
people.
SUBJECTIVE MEANING
Any personal meaning
consciously or unconsciously
conveyed by the artist using
private symbolism which stems
from his own associations of
certain objects, actions, or colors
from past experiences.
