ENG 102: Art Appreciation

Module 5: Manner of Presenting Art & Levels and Meaning of Subject

Week 4: Sept. 20-25, 2021 |1st Semester, S.Y. 2021-2022

Book: An Eye for Art Appreciation: Perception and Expression

Page(s): 61-73

Introduction

Artists have various ways of presenting their works. As students of art, we have
to keep in mind that the artists not only create art for the sole purpose of displaying
the capability of men to be creative. Most often than not, an artwork is an indirect
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way of presenting a recurring issue or significant human experiences through

symbols, magic, and mysticism. This means that a piece of painting carries a
meaning behind the brush strokes and pigments. Having said this, we must look into
art beyond what our eyes can perceive. We have to identify and understand the
symbolic elements that make up the greater picture and meaning of an artwork. In
this module, you will learn more about the ways in how artists represent their
subjects.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Identify the different ways artists present their subjects in their artworks; and
• Distinguish and dissect the manner how an artwork is presented.

Manner of Presenting Art as a Subject

Presenting an art subject requires some tools and authority. An artist may
convey a particular method or approach, and in order for his work to be
understood, there are different ways of looking into art.

Art critics may vary in their thoughts, ideas, and evaluation. However, their
conventions are clear in presenting art as a subject. These are the common ways
of presenting art: (a) Realism, (b) Abstraction, (c) Surrealism, (d) Fauvism, (e)
Dadaism, (f) Expressionism, (g) Futurism, and (h) Symbolism.

Realism

The common aphorism that goes ‘what you see is what you get’ best fits this art
presentation. In this method of presenting, artists portray subjects exactly in replicas
in either 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional byproduct. In this method, no modifications
are made, however, since the subjects are presented as they are, making the
artwork would be very tedious. Take the image below as an example:

If you notice, the subject here is not

leaning towards any sort of abstraction and
distortion of features and colors. Since it is a
portrait, the artist meticulously copied the
subject down into its smallest details. Also
notice how the artist represented light and
shadow, tints and shades as they would
appear in real life.

The concept of realism also goes

"A NATIONAL TREASURE" beyond visual art, it could also be seen in a
By Romeo Richard film, pieces of literature, and drama.
(Portrait of Ambalang Ausalin)
Entry for Kulay sa Tubig 2020
Watercolor on Arches paper
21 x 29 inches
 Abstraction

Abstraction finds its meaning with the artist.

The predisposition of meaning is deposited with
the maker of the work. One may find difficulty in
understanding the work but the artist is given the
task of creating the essence of his work.
Abstraction is the manner or the process of
simplifying or reorganizing objects and elements
either with shapes or colors. Hence, instead of
sketching or presenting one’s work in its normal or
natural form, an artist used shapes instead of
cubes, and geometric shapes or just a splash of
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colors to present its subject and meaning.

Similarly, abstract art refers to the visual works that
"Constellation 1" by Adria Arch
move beyond reality as contrasted to realism that
gives us the notion of preciseness. What makes
abstraction an interesting concept is that it is personal and unique to the artist
because his/her representation is how he/she perceives the world. It is breaking free
from what was deemed beautiful, pristine, and acceptable to the eyes of the
viewers.

Under abstraction, there are three subcategories. This includes Cubism,

Distortion, Mangling, and Abstract Expressionism.

Cubism takes precedence as a highly

influential visual art in the 20th century. Pablo
Picasso’s work became a landmark in this
visual art presentation. The common
characteristics of this art comprise the two-
dimensional surface of the picture plane or
apply geometric forms or figures, that
emphasize the flatness, and also reject the
traditional forms of foreshortening,
modeling, coloring, and perspectives.
“Girl with a Mandolin” by Pablo Picasso (1910)
Oil on canvas; Museum of Modern Art

Distortion is an alteration of the shape. The

form may appear twisted or bent out from its
original shape or form in its regular condition. This
is commonly used as an expressive technique
rendering emphasis or superimposition to depict
disturbance in peace to induce emotions and
trigger anxiety.

“Beautiful Distortions” by Henrietta Harris (2017)

Watercolor

Mangling is a Dadaist approach (a rebellious

movement towards realism) to art, and it was
introduced around 1918. The common characteristics
of this presentation are the qualities of being mutilated,
cut, crushed, slashed, and disfigured; an exaggeration
beyond distortion.

“The Weeping Woman” by Pablo Picasso

(1937); Oil on canvas
 Abstract Expressionism is a manner
of art presentation that is also known as
color field or action painting or “gestural
abstraction” because the work of art
becomes an event. In this presentation,
the “manner of production” is the
subject of the art. Characteristics of this
presentation include messiness and
exceptionally energetic applications of
paint which have been introduced into
the art scene after World War II. Part of
the distinguishing features of the art
includes spontaneity, movement,
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freedom, and personal expression.

“Hills of Nikko” by Jose Joya (1964); Oil on
canvas

Surrealism

Surrealism is a way of
representing the subject by
combining realism and distortion.
Surrealism involves contradictions of
situations of reality and that of
absolute reality. There are elements
that may seem believable, but some
parts of it are not, causing
“suspension of disbelief.” Surrealism
is often compared to a dream state
in art.

The Persistence of Memory, oil on canvas by Salvador Dalí,

1931; in the Museum of Modern Art, New York City

Fauvism

Fauvism employs colors in art

The turning road by André Derain, 1906
presentation. Artists use colors as bright
as they can be to express joy, fun, quirk,
and freedom. This means that artists do
not use dark colors. Artists under this
method include Henri Matisse, Vincent
Van Gogh, and Paul Cezanne to name
a few. These artists are distinguished as
the Fauves, avant-garde, or the “wild
beasts” because they belong to a
group of loose French painters admired
for personal expression and freedom
from the conventions of elitist art.

Dadaism

Dadaism started as a protest against art in Zurich

Switzerland. Dada means hobby horse which technically
means “non-sensical” way of presenting art. One theory
postulates that it came from a meeting of the group when a
paper knife was stuck into a French-german dictionary that
pointed to the word ‘dada’. Furthermore, this European artistic
and literary movement promoted the conventional cultural
and aesthetic works identified incongruity and travesty. Dada
often shows rejection of logic, rather zeroes on nonsense,
La Jaconde fuman la pipe
By Eugene Bataille (1887)
 intuition, and irrationality. Dadaism intends to express art in an offensive,
provocative manner against the “proper” art.

Expressionism

Expressionism is characterized by free

brushwork, generous and textured
pigment, the color is intense and non-
naturalistic. Further, the artist lets the
viewers see the depiction of subjects with
swirling, swaying brushstrokes. The strokes
are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that when
joined together would create a greater
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image.

Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

Futurism

Futurism/Modernism is characterized by
technology, modernity, youth, and
speed. Common themes and objects
seen in this art presentation include
airplanes, cars, modern inventions or
technological advancements, and
urbanized cities. Advocacy of this art
inculcates thrusts of modern technology
to express the dynamism and
movement of modern life.
Cyclist by Natalia Goncharova (1913)

Symbolism

Conversely, compared to realism and surrealism,

symbolism art depicts reality however incorporates
images, subjects, elements, or references that are
almost universally recognizable. Symbols such as white
dove for peace, or the grim reaper for death, or a rose
for the woman's genitalia are incorporated in a scene
that the artist imagines. Most of the time, the scenes are
realistic however, symbols are inserted to cameo the
whole picture, which basically signals the viewers of a
foreshadowing or an implication of a circumstance that
may not be directly seen by those who do not think
deeply and profoundly of the artwork.
The Trial of Time by Alfred Dolezal
Symbolism is also alive in films, drama, songs/poetry,
and prose.
 Module 4: Manner in Presenting Art as a
Subject and Levels of Meaning of Subject
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 Module 4: Manner in Presenting Art as a
Subject and Levels of Meaning of Subject
COURSE MODULE
 Module 4: Manner in Presenting Art as a
Subject and Levels of Meaning of Subject
COURSE MODULE
 Module 4: Manner in Presenting Art as a
Subject and Levels of Meaning of Subject
COURSE MODULE
COURSE MODULE

References

• Sonsona, et al. (n.d.) Art Appreciation: Perception and Expression. PanAsia

Book Exchange Inc. Philippines.