SUBJECT is a term used for what is represented in a work of art.
Arts without a subject are called NONOBJECTIVE; as they do not represent anything.
ARCHITECTURE is where the subject is least common.
LITERATURE is one where the subject is most common.
TRADITIONAL SCULPTURE AND PAINTING have a subject. When looking at a painting or a statue, we expect to recognize the subject, and to know what it is about.
COMBINED ARTS such as theater and opera where it is both a visual and audio art, have usually a subject.
DANCE AND MINOR ARTS such as textiles, metalworks, and pottery, may or may not have a subject.
A great deal of MUSIC has no subject: the sonata, the etude, and the symphony.
ABSOLUTE MUSIC is a music without subject.
PROGRAM MUSIC is a music with a subject.
The 4 ways of presenting art are: REALISM, ABSTRACTION, SIGN AND SYMBOL, AND DREAMS AND SUBCONSCIOUS.
In REALISM, no art is ever like nature. The presentation of details and their organization in the work are so nearly obvious and natural. In this case, the work is REALISTIC.
In ABSTRACTION, the subject is not shown at all as an objective reality, but only as the artist's idea of it or feeling about it.
SIGNS have a literal quality.
SYMBOLS combines them with abstract or suggestive meaning. They mean more than they say.
A SIGN has one-to-one reference to what it signifies; it points to something in some context other than its own.
SIGN becomes symbolic when it expresses more than it strictly signifies. It has literal meaning and suggestive meaning - i.e. denotation and connotation.
SYMBOLS do not have definite meanings. Their meanings are so broad as the range of emotions they elicit, that is their connotations.
In DREAMS AND SUBCONSCIOUS, subjects of this sort attempt to show the inside of the human mind as well as the appearance of the outside world.
In dreams and the subconscious, they try to reveal some thoughts and dreams that are NOT CONTROLLED by reasons in any CONSCIOUS order.
Paintings under dreams and subconscious belong to the type called SURREALISM.
Surrealism means "SUPER" realism.
There is also an "ABSTRACT" realism represented by JOAN MIRO, MAX ERNST, AND ROBERTO MATTA.
There are 6 sources of art subjects: NATURE, HISTORY, GREEK & ROMAN MYTHOLOGY, THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRADITION, ORIENTAL SACRED TEXTS, AND OTHERS WORK OF ART.
Nature is one of the sources of art subjects, some aspects of it include ANIMALS, PEOPLE, and LANDSCAPES. They have been the most common inspiration and subject matter of art.
NATURE - It appears that ANIMALS painted on the walls of caves by prehistoric people were the very first subject matter.
NATURE - The HUMAN MALE AND FEMALE FIGURES - during the Greek and Roman periods were idealized and have been used by artists in all mediums as subject matter.
NATURE - Next to animals, people, and their activities, NATURE AND LANDSCAPE are the most common subjects of art.
HISTORY mat be legend, folklore, and current events.
GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY has been a very important source of subjects in art.
The works of Greece and Rome during the period of their civilization include ARCHITECTURE, DRAMA, POETRY, SCULPTURE, AND PAINTING.
The arts of Europe during the Renaissance, POETS, PAINTERS, AND SCULPTORS drew largely from Greek and Roman sources for subjects.
In the JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRADITION, RELIGION has played an enormous role in inspiring works of art.
CHURCH was the source of education, entertainment, most social occasions, and faith.
THE BIBLE is the collection of books (Old Testament and New Testament)
THE APOCRYPHA are the books of the Bible that were not accepted in the official Old and New Testaments.
The NEW TESTAMENT APOCRYPHA comprises early stories of the lives of Jesus and Mary.
LEGENDS AND LIVES OF THE SAINTS - the saints are those people formally recognized by the Christian church because of the exceptional holiness and piety in their lives.
RITUAL has been of great importance in art in the Judeo-Christian source of art.
The most important of all the rituals of the church is the MASS, which is the celebration of the Holy Communion.