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Topic 3: Subject and Content of Art

Introduction
This topic discusses the subject of art, which is a dynamic and forceful as
man’s way of life, culture, and imagination. The subject and content of art never
comes to an end and is never fully worn out and exhausted. The clearness and
simplicity of the subject is vital since the content of the art is the soul of every artistic
creation of masterpiece (Panisan, 2018).

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the topic, you are expected to:
a. differentiate content from subject
b. classify artworks according to subject
c. analyze how artists present their subjects in in relation to the real subject.
d. describe the sources and kinds of art

LEARNING CONTENT

What are the subjects of arts?

SUBJECT—refers to any person, object, scene or event described or represented
in a work of art.
What is portrait
In general, the subject of an artwork is anything under the sun.

1. REPRESENTATIONAL/OBJECT ARTS
--are artworks that depict something easily recognized by most people.
They attempt to copy something that is real. It also attempts to portray the subject as it
is.

Examples:
1. Still Life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter.

2. Portrait is a painting, drawing, photograph or engraving of a person.

3.Landscape, Seascapes, Moonscapes and Cityscapes
PAINTING
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Rice Fields, Michael Jadach Seascape Oil Painting, Manlangit

Moonscape// Oil on Canvas- Sophie Aurelia

Young

4. Mythology and Religion, Dreams and Fantasies

Olympian gods, courtesy Palazzo del Te in

Manila,Philippine
Mantua
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2. NON-REPRESENTATIONAL OR NON-OBJECTIVE ARTS

-- are artworks that have no resemblance to any real subject. They do not represent
anything and they are what they are. They rather appear directly to the senses
primarily because of the satisfying organization of their sensuous and expensive
elements
Product of imagination, no recognize

 Non-Objective, @Pinterest  Non-Objective, Vasily  Non-Objective, @Pinterest

Kandinsky

Source of Subjects
 Nature
 History
 Greek and Roman Mythology
 Judeo-Christian Tradition
 Sacred Oriental Texts
 Other Works of Art

Types of Art Subject

1. Still Life – a drawing or painting of an arrangement of non-moving or non-living
objects usually set indoors such as bowl or vase.

1. Self-portrait – a painting, drawing, sculpture or other work of art showing the

artist himself.
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2. Religious Theme – art which subject is of religious matter.

4. Non-objective – art which the visual signs are entirely imaginative and not from
anything seen by the artist.

5. Landscape – a picture of natural outdoor scenery such as mountains, rivers, fields

or forest.

1. Genre – art that has a subject matter that concerns with everyday life, domestic
scenes, sentimental family relationship, etc.
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7. Visionary Expression – art that involves simplification and rearrangement of

natural objects to meet the needs or artistic expression.

8. Portrait – an art showing a person or several people, usually show just the face and
shoulders but it can include all parts of the body.

Content in Art
1. Subject – refers to any person, object, scene or event describe or represented in a
work of art; the “WHAT”

1. Content – the meaning that is communicated by the artist or the artwork; the
“WHY”

2. Form – the development and configuration of the art work – how the elements and
the medium or material are put together; “HOW”

LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
ASSESSMENT:
I. MULTIPLE CHOICES
DIRECTIONS: Read and analyze the questions. Encircle the letter of the
correct answer.
1. When the pigment of color is applied on a surface, what is the resulting artwork?
a. photography c. tapestry
b. mosaic d. painting
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2. An architectural is designed and constructed in consideration of the following of

which aspects of life?
a. social and economic c. technological and geographical
b. political and ideological d. all of the above
3. Which of the element of visual art refers to the surface characteristics of an object
and is best appreciated when touched?
a. value c. form
b. texture d. color
4. This art form is the most personal of all art forms because of the nature of its main
medium.
a. music c. drama
b. dance d. cinema
5. Art is usually a representation of reality. Hence it is often referred to us
_______________
a. communicative c. imitative
b. product d. expressive
6. What do we call the graphic image resulted by the duplicating process?
a. photography c. print
b. image d. copy
7. Which of the following refers to the material out of which the art is made of?
a. subject c. content
b. medium d. style
8. When we combined all the art forms. What type of performing art did we produce?
a. music c. film
b. dance d. theater
9. When we add and subtract to any materials to form new a design or object, what do
we do?
a. painting c. filming
b. sculpture d. architecture
10. Which element of art is the easiest to notice?
a. line c. value
b. form d. color

II. FILL IN THE BLANKS

DIRECTIONS: Read the following statements carefully. Identify what is being
described in the statement and write your answer on the space before the
number.
_____________________1. It deals with the learning or understanding and creating
artworks and enjoying them.
_____________________2. The philosophical thought that means imitating reality.
_____________________3. It is the function of art that is used to affect collective
behavior.
_____________________4. It is the study of objects or works of art in their historical
development and stylistic context.
_____________________5. It is an art that is made with the assistance of digital.
_____________________6. It is the function of art when it is being used to provide
comfort, happiness, and convenience to human beings.
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_____________________7. These refer to the artworks perceived by seeing which

are 2-3 dimensional forms.
_____________________8. It is the projection of object on the retina for a split-
second longer that it is actually there, causing the images blur into illusion of motion.
_____________________9. It is the vocal or instrumental sounds combined to
produce a beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.
_____________________10. It is writing with high artistic qualities.

III. OUTPUT
Applying your drawing skills
Direction: Draw an example of representational and nonrepresentational art in
oslo/drawing paper

*REFERENCES:
Art Perception and Appreciation, Ortiz et al., 1978, pp. 27-32
Alampat; An Introduction to Art Appreciation, Perez, Cayas and Narciso, 2013, pp.
23-25
Cultural Appropriation and the Arts, Young, 2008, pp. 1-27
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