Subject of Art

• Subject of art


  Any person, object, scene, or event described or represented in a work of art, suggesting the main idea of the piece and answering the question, "What is the artwork about?"
• Types of art based on subject

  • Representational or objective (arts that have subjects)
  • Non-representational or nonobjective (arts that do not have recognizable subjects)
• Objective arts


  Easily recognizable by most people because they depict or represent common or familiar objects, attempting to copy something very real even in a subjective manner, concerned with "form" and "what" is to be shown in the artwork
• Non-Objective arts


  Arts without any recognizable objects, not having any reference to anything outside itself, called abstract because they do not represent real objects in our world, using "content" and concerned solely with "how" the artwork is depicted
• Content in art


  Pertains to the "why" aspect of the artwork, concerned with the message or meaning behind the artwork, understanding different levels of meaning of the subject matter
• Levels of meaning in art

  • Factual Meaning
  • Conventional Meaning
  • Subjective Meaning
• Factual Meaning


  Easily seen from the recognizable forms in the artwork
• Conventional Meaning


  Based on what is generally believed, interpreted using signs, icons, symbols, motifs, and other signs commonly understood
• Subjective Meaning


  Varied responses to a work of art, taking on various meanings influenced by personal circumstances such as moods, experiences, knowledge
• SUBJECTIVE MEANING


  People have different responses to a work of art, and thus art takes on various meanings. Our perception and understanding of an artwork can be influenced by our personal circumstances – our moods, experiences, knowledge
• Different kinds or sources of subjects of art

  • Landscapes
  • Still Life
  • Nature
  • Portrait
  • Figures
  • Genre or everyday life
  • History and legend
  • Religion and mythology
  • Dreams and fantasies
  • Abstract types
• Landscapes


  • urbanscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, farmscapes
• Landscapes


  • "Baguio Rice Terraces" by Fernando Amorsolo
• Still Life


  • groups of inanimate objects arranged in indoor setting
• Still Life


  • "Apricots and Old Jars" by James Koll
• Nature


  • focuses on animals, plants, stones, and minerals of the earth
• Nature


  • Portraits of dogs with human-like expressions from the Series called 'A Dog's Life' by Ralph Hargarten
• Portrait


  • realistic rendition of a person
• Portrait


  • "Candy" by Alexis Franklin
• Figures


  • chief focus is showing the human body, nude or clothed
• Figures


  • "The Oblation" by Guillermo E. Tolentino
• Genre or everyday life


  • depict the common or everyday ordinary life of people
• Genre or everyday life

  • "PLANTING RICE" by Fernando Amorsolo
• History and legend subjects

  • show significant scenes in history, myths, legends, and folklores
• History and legend subjects

  • "Maria Makiling (Forest Nymph)" by J.Bulaong
• Religion and mythology arts


  • used to educate, teach, inspire feelings of devotion and convert non-believers to a certain belief or religion
• Religion and mythology arts

  • "The Last Supper" by Leonardo Da Vinci
• Dreams and fantasies


  • portray figures, scenes, or objects that are strange, absurd, or out-of-this-world
• Dreams and fantasies


  • "Numb" by Ronald Ventura
• Abstract types


  • not recognizable because they do not have any reference to the real world
• Abstract types


  • "Remarkable Imperfections" by Kenneth John Montegrande