1

MODULE 4
Art and Philosophy: Imitationism and Representationism

Lesson 4.1. Imitation Theory of Art and Beauty

Lesson 4.2. Philosophical Theory of Music

Lesson 4.3. Representation Theory of Art

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 Chapter Overview

At its most basic, the representational theory states that the fundamental, definitive quality
of art is the ability to capture some aspect of reality. In short, if it's not a reflection of
something that actually exists, then it's not art. This means that art can be defined foremost as
an extension of human perception; it's a way to reflect the ways that the mind perceives and
understands reality.
The roots of representational theory date all the way back to ancient Greece, when
imitation theory was the foundation of artistic principles. According to the ancient Greeks, the
definitive role of art is to imitate nature in its most perfect forms.
The aesthetic theory known as imitationalism applies to artworks that look realistic.
These artworks contain recognizable, realistic looking objects and scenes that closely imitate
what we see in the real world.
If the primary purpose of the artwork is to show us how something looks in real life, then
it belongs in this category.
Imitational artworks are sometimes referred to as "representational" because they
represent what we see in the real world.
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 Lesson 4.1. Imitation Theory of Art and Beauty

1. Examine the imitation theory by Plato as a philosophy of art and beauty.

REFERENCES

Readings
Ancient Civilization: Ancient Greece. https://www.ushistory.org/civ/5e.asp.

Bedard, M. (May 31, 2020) Plato’s Allegory of the Cave: Summary and Meaning for Screenwriters.
https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/platos-allegory-of-the-cave/

Plato Allegory of the Cave. Republic, VII 514 a, 2 to 517a, 7. Translation by Thomas Sheehan.

Videos
What is Art? maARTe ako. https://www.youtube. com/results?search_query=ma arte+ako.

4
Can you determine which among the artworks are alive?

How do arts affects

your perception of
being alive?
What is ART? - maARTe ako

https://www.yo
utube.com/wat
ch?v=TjuV7S
A6fj4 5
 The easiest thing is to imagine Plato as an enemy of art because he viewed art products of
all kinds, whether poetry, theatre or painting as inferior copies of the ultimate reality. But it
should be borne in mind that Plato's primary aim was not to evaluate the worth of aesthetic
pleasure but to point out that representation through art was inferior to the ultimate truth. His
concerns were not artistic but philosophical.
Plato’s theory on art from The Republic claims that art is nothing more than a copy of a
copy of an ideal, thrice removed.
❑ Using a couch as an example, Plato believed that the true artist was god, who then
inspired the carpenter, who then inspired the painter, “thus we have three forms of
couches and three overseers of their manufacture - the painter, the carpenter, and god.”

❑ He believed that art imitates reality, that it imitates the objects and events of ordinary
life, be it images of nature, or a photograph of a ballerina. He saw art is nothing more
than an imitation of people, places, and things that already exist.
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 KEY
CONCEPTS

PLATO
348-267 BC

The Dialogue: The

Republic

IMITATIONISM
Idealist Theory of Art
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Imitation define as:
▪ Applies to artworks to create a realistic appearance.
▪ Realistic looking objects and scenes that clearly mimic what we see in the world around us.
▪ he main purpose of imitationism is to portray the subject matter as realistic as possible.

Plato discussed art forms like tragedy, along with sculpture, painting, pottery and
architecture, not as 'art' but as 'techne' or skilled craft. He regarded them all as instances of
'mimesis' or imitation. Plato criticised all imitations, including tragedies, for failing to depict
the eternal ideal realities ('Forms' or 'Ideas'). Instead they offered mere imitations of things in
our world, which themselves were copies of the Ideas.
The easiest thing is to imagine Plato as an enemy of art because he viewed art products of
all kinds, whether poetry, theatre or painting as inferior copies of the ultimate reality. But it
should be borne in mind that Plato's primary aim was not to evaluate the worth of aesthetic
pleasure but to point out that representation through art was inferior to the ultimate truth. His
concerns were not artistic but philosophical.
For Plato, the fact that art imitates (mimesis), meant that it leads a viewer further and
further away from the truth towards an illusion. This belief leads Plato to the determination
that art leads to dangerous delusion.
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 IMITATIONISM BY PLATO

Raphael, The School of Athens, 1511

Raphael,
The School
of Athens
(Detail)

Leonardo
as Plato

Michelangelo
as Aristotle

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 PHILOSOPHY OF BEAUTY
The nature of beauty is one of the most enduring and controversial themes in Western philosophy, and
is—with the nature of art—one of the two fundamental issues in philosophical aesthetics. Beauty has
traditionally been counted among the ultimate values, with goodness, truth, and justice

ARTIST WHO WAS CONSIDERED TO HAVE WORKED AND FIT WITHIN THE
IMITATIONALISM STYLE OF ART
Leonardo da Vinci was known as the Renaissance Man. He What is beauty?
helped society of the early 1500’s to see artists as genii.
What is the essence of
The artist portrayed Mona Lisa as elegantly dressed in the
beautiful things?
fashion of the day, and unadorned by jewelry. It is as if the
artist wanted nothing to distract attention from her face, and her What is art?
face is the epitome of Renaissance masterwork representing
What is the essence of
female beauty at that time. In fact, her gaze is mesmerizing and art?
yet shyly seductive.
In his paintings like Mona Lisa, few lines are evident
rather, sfumato techniques have been employed. Sfumato is an
Italian word used to describe changes of color, and especially Mona Lisa, 1503-06
tone, from light to dark by gradual stages. Oil &tempera on wood 78 x 52cm
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 But for Plato’s theory on art from The Republic claims that art is nothing more than a
copy of a copy of an ideal, thrice removed.
❑ Using a couch as an example, Plato believed that the true artist was god, who then
inspired the carpenter, who then inspired the painter, “thus we have three forms of
couches and three overseers of their manufacture - the painter, the carpenter, and
god.”

❑ He believed that art imitates reality, that it imitates the objects and events of
ordinary life, be it images of nature, or a photograph of a ballerina. He saw art is
nothing more than an imitation of people, places, and things that already exist.

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AESTHETICS BEAUTY UGLY
is is is
Logic Truth Falsity
Metaphysics Reality Illusion
Epistemology Knowledge Ignorance
Ethics Good Evil

Metaphysics :The branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of things, including such concepts as being,
knowing, substance, essence, cause, identity, time, and space.

Epistemology: comes from the Greek words “episteme” and “logos”. “Episteme” can be translated as “knowledge” or
“understanding” or “acquaintance”, while “logos” can be translated as “account” or “argument” or “reason”

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 IMITATIONISM BY PLATO
Ignorance Art Studies Philosophy Knowledge
WORLD OF WORLD OF WORLD OF
ART BECOMING BEING

IMITATION APPEARANCE REALITY

Illusory Changing Unchanging
Temporal Eternal
Illusion Artist Individual Demiurge Universal
COPY THING FORM

Painting of Chair Material Chair Idea of Chair

ARTISTIC PHYSICAL METAPHYSICAL
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Beautiful Artworks Beautiful Things Idea of Beauty
 IMITATIONISM
IDEA
Beauty of Forms Metaphysical Contemplated
REALITY Chair: Idea by Philosopher

MATTER
Beauty of Things Physical Made by a
APPEARANCE Chair: Thing Carpenter

ART Copy of Made by a

Beauty of Imitation Physical Painter
ILLUSION Chair: Art
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 World of Art World of Becoming World of Being
IMITATION APPEARANCE REALITY

IDEA OF
BEAUTY

ROSE DAWSON KATE WINSLET IDEA

In the Film Titanic In This World In the World of Ideas
“Artistic Beauty” “Physical Beauty” “Real Beauty”

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 Plato’s "Allegory of the Cave"

Is a concept devised by the philosopher to reflect on the nature of belief versus

knowledge. The allegory states that there exists prisoners chained together in a cave. Behind
the prisoners is a fire, and between the fire and the prisoners are people carrying puppets or
other objects. This casts a shadow on the other side of the wall. The prisoners watch these
shadows, believing them to be real.
Plato asserts that one prisoner could become free. He finally sees the fire and realizes
the shadows are fake. This prisoner could escape from the cave and discover there is a
whole new world outside that they were previously unaware of.
This prisoner would believe the outside world is so much more real than that in the
cave. He would try to return to free the other prisoners. Upon his return, he is blinded
because his eyes are not accustomed to actual sunlight. The chained prisoners would see this
blindness and believe they will be harmed if they try to leave the cave.

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PLATO’S ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE

ART

Inside the Cave Outside the Cave

THIS WORLD REAL WORLD 17
PLATO’S ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE

ART

Inside the Cave Outside the Cave

THIS WORLD REAL WORLD 18
PLATO’S ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE

ART

Inside the Cave Outside the Cave

THIS WORLD REAL WORLD 19
 IMITATIONISM BY PLATO

▪ Things in this world are beautiful as appearances of the reality or idea of beauty or the universal
form of beauty existing in the world of being.
▪ Art is beautiful as imitations of things in this world.
▪ Art is the imitation of the appearance of reality

IMITATION OF THE APPEARANCE OF IMITATION OF

THE REAL CHAIR A PHYSICAL WOMAN

Van Gogh, Leonardo,

Chair with a Pipe Portrait of Ginebra d’Benci
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 Beauty in the Human Form
Ancient Greek sculptures were typically made of either stone or wood and very few of
them survive to this day. Most Greek sculpture was of the freestanding, human form (even if
the statue was of a god) and many sculptures were nudes. The Greeks saw beauty in the naked
human body.
Early Greek statues called kouros were rigid and stood up straight. Over time, Greek
statuary adopted a more natural, relaxed pose with hips thrust to one side, knees and arms
slightly bent, and the head turned to one side.
Other sculptures depicted human action, especially athletics. A good example is
Myron's Discus Thrower Another famous example is a sculpture of Artemis the huntress. The
piece, called "Diana of Versailles," depicts the goddess of the hunt reaching for an arrow
while a stag leaps next to her.
Among the most famous Greek statues is the Venus de Milo, which was created in the
second century B.C.E. The sculptor is unknown, though many art historians believe Praxiteles
to have created the piece. This sculpture embodies the Greek ideal of.
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 CLASSICAL GREEK SCULPTURE
Imitation of the Idea of Beauty

Polycritus,
Doryphorus Kouros, Ancient Greek Sculpture Venus de Milo,
Spear Bearer)450 BC 600 BC 150 BC

Myron Discobolus
Praxiteles Aphrodite
Praxiteles Hermis 340 BC (Disk Thrower) 340 BC
of Cnidos

PERFECT POSITION OF THE HUMAN BODY

Position of rest between two movements
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Evolution of Beauty

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 The Roles of Imitation Theory of Art :

The imitationalism or mimetic theory of art claims that artwork is best when it imitates life. We’ve all
experienced seeing an artwork from a distance and mistaking it for the real thing, rather than a replica. Those
pieces are prized under imitationalism. The most realistic, the better.

Society
Nothing is more natural than for children to pretend and for human beings to create, using their
imagination. Thus, any human society which is healthy will be a society where there is imitative art. The
concept of art as imitation is also used in the sense of representation (representation of reality or nature).
History
Art does not teach us history because it is imitation, but because art imitates human actions, good art
has to represent or depict character, character traits and personality. These later things are real, so it teaches
us moral and psychological lessons.
Education
What art is imitating or representation is real and applicable to our lives. Art also displays and
transmits this knowledge in a unique way. The audience are made to understand the universals at work in
the drama or poetry and in that sense they internalize the knowledge of human nature and morality utilized
by the playwright, poet or/the novelist.
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 Can you draw a conclusion from this caricature inspired from the painting of Michael Angelo?

Question

Artist: Michael Angelo

Date: 1512
Medium used: Fresco
Title: Creation of Adam

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 Lesson 4.2. Philosophical Theory of Music

1. Interpret imitationism as the philosophical basis of ancient Greek art and of some
classical compositions in music.
REFERENCES
Readings
Shimamura, A. (2012). Towards a Science of Aesthetics. A. Shimamura & S. Palmer, Aesthetic Science:
Connecting Minds, Brains and Experiences. Oxford University Press.
Analytic Perspectives in the Philosophy of Music. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
https://iep.utm.edu/music-an/
Videos
Corelli: Sonata XII: La Follia: Music of the Spheres. (Jan. 20, 2015). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKj2DzFt1zQ
J.S. Bach – Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565. (Sept. 29, 2010).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnuq9PXbywA
Voice of Ascension - Palestrina: "Credo" from Missa Papae Marcelli. (Jan. 29, 2020). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0QEMXSitrc
Josquin Desprez: Ave Maria (Motet). (April 7, 2012). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxLv2pPiQVI
Ave Maria. (Jan. 8, 2017). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9wxPWtvLlA
Monks singing Gregorian Chant in a Catholic Benedictine Seminary. (Jan. 29, 2012). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBwh1OXw6uI
Gregorian - Losing My Religion (2011 Live). (April 20, 2012).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeAGO5OHJX8
Gregorian - My Heart Will Go On. (Sept. 24, 2012). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7F71KXq-1M
Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky - Dance of the Little Swans. (March 18, 2016).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd2nTXsivHs
Muzzarelli, S. (Dec. 3, 2017). The Relationship between Music and the Mind. http://bit.ly/3sHXy2O
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“If you want to keep
your brain engaged
throughout the aging
process, listening to or
playing music is a great
tool. It provides a
total brain workout.”
Research has shown that
listening to music can
reduce anxiety, blood
pressure, and pain as well as
improve sleep quality,
mood, mental alertness, and
memory. 27
Key Take Aways:
I hope you’ve found the information presented interesting and informative. For something so
trivial like music there is so much to be learned about it.
1. Emotion: Music can influence our emotions by evoking responses from different parts of our
brains.
2. Learning: Exposure to music from a young age will have a positive impact on learning ability to
learn.
3. Memory: Music impacts our memory in that when a song is linked to a certain piece of
information it is easier to recall that information when we hear the song.

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 Music isn’t simply sounds we hear. It is sounds we listen to. Analogously to
natural languages, the process of listening to music involves understanding it as
music. But how exactly should this understanding be characterized?
Contemporary analytic philosophy has produced a debate regarding the way in
which we should describe basic musical understanding.
The philosophy of music attempts to answer questions concerning the
nature and value of musical practices. Philosophy of music has attempted to
solve the riddle of musical value: how is pure music valuable to our lives if it
makes no reference whatsoever to our world? The most original solutions to
this problem have tried to show that it is precisely the music’s abstractness that
explains its value and appeal.

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 THE BASIC QUESTION IN THE HUMANITIES
Is sometimes expressed thru music
KEY
CONCEPTS

“Who am I?”
https://www.
youtube.com
/watch?v=m
Bcqria2wmg

PHILOSOPHICAL THEORY OF MUSIC

COSMOLOGICAL
Concerns the structure of the Physical Universe
-PYTHAGORAS

EPISTEMOLOGICAL
Concerns the Nature of Human Knowledge
-PLATO
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 COSMOLOGICAL
THEORY OF MUSIC

PHYSICAL
PYTHAGORAS
Where does it
UNIVERSE come from? 570-490 BC
Mathematician
Astronomer
Philosopher

According to Pythagoras, “There is

geometry in the humming
of the strings; there is music in
Where does it KNOWLEDGE
the spacing of the spheres.”
leads to? OF REALITY

THE SOUND OF THE SOUND OF

THE UNIVERSE MUSIC
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Music is the imitation of cosmic sound.
Music Human
of the Music
Corelli,
Spheres Sonata XII,
Music of the
Spheres
https://www.yout
ube.com/watch?v
=uKj2DzFt1zQ

"The eyes are made for astronomy, the ears for harmony,
and these are sister sciences." PYTHAGORAS 32
EPISTEMOLOGICAL THEORY
OF MUSIC BY PLATO

“If gymnastics is for the body,

so as music is for the soul.”

PHYSICAL BODY SPIRITUAL SOUL

GYMNASTICS MUSIC
=Strong Body =Intelligent Soul/Mind
Health Knowledge

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 DEGREE OF TRUTH

LADDER OF KNOWLEDGE
REALITY
PHILOSOPHY Ideas or Forms
Realm of Knowledge
https://www.you
MATHEMATICS Numbers tube.com/watch?
v=Nnuq9PXbywA

MUSIC Harmony of Spheres Bach, Toccata and

Fugue in D Minor
ASTRONOMY Heavenly Bodies

PHYSICS Earthly Bodies APPEARANCES

Realm of Opinion
BIOLOGY Animals & Plants and Error
HISTORY Societies

LITERATURE Biographies & Stories

IMITATION
MIMETIC ART Painting & Sculpture
Realm of Ignorance 34
 Theological Theory of Music
AUGUSTINE

“Singing is praying THEOLOGY ON THE COMMUNION

twice over.” OF SAINTS

CHURCH HEAVEN
TRIUMPHANT God, Mary,
Saints, Angels
Prayer=Music

CHURCH EARTH
MILITANT People Alive
Sing a new song unto the
Lord. Let your song be PURGATORY
sung from mountains high. Prayer = Music Venial Sinners Palestrina,
Sing a new song unto the
Credo
Lord, singing alleluiah.
CHURCH HELL https://www.yout
ube.com/watch?v=
SUFFERING Moral Sinners W0QEMXSitrc
35
 MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE MUSIC

RELIGIOUS AND SACRED MUSIC

LITURGICAL MUSIC Motet
Monophonic: One Sounded Music
LATIN movere
GREGORIAN CHANT
ENGLISH “to move”
Polyphonic: Many Sounded Music Movement of many voices
MOTET: Sacred Choral Music counterpointing one another
Renaissance Composers:
Giovanni Palestrina https://www.
youtube.com/
Joaquin Des Prez watch?v=kxLv
2pPiQVI
PIPE ORGAN MUSIC
Des Prez (1450-1521)
Misa Pange Lingua
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 Pope
GREGORIAN CHANT
Gregory I
590 AD Glory to God in the
highest, and peace to his
people on earth. Lord
God, heavenly king,
Ave Maria, almighty God and Father,
Gregorian Chant we worship you, we give
800 AD you thanks, we praise you
for your glory.

https://www.youtu
be.com/watch?v=-
9wxPWtvLlA

All voices singing

in unison 37
 DEFINITION OF ART BASED ON IMITATIONISM

https://www. PAINTING Imitation of the appearances of people, things or

youtube.com
/watch?v=Ye SCULPTURE events
AGO5OHJX8

Master of Chant, Losing My Religion, MUSIC Imitation of the sound of the universe

1988 (Gregorian Rock Version)

Imitation of movements of animals, nature or
DANCE
things
https://www.y
outube.com/
watch?v=B7F
71KXq-1M LITERATURE Imitation of life through language

Leoninus, Alleluia Angelus Domini DRAMA Imitation of life through action and dialogue

https://www.y
Four Little Swans
outube.com/ https://www.
watch?v=CB youtube.com
wh1OXw6uI /watch?v=Xd
38
2nTXsivHs
 Lesson 4.3. Representation Theory of Art

1. Identify artworks, styles, artists and philosophers that abide with representation
theory.
2. Compare and contrast artworks, styles, artists and philosophers that abide with
representation theory.
REFERENCES
Readings
Shimamura, A. (2012). Towards a Science of Aesthetics. A. Shimamura & S. Palmer, Aesthetic Science:
Connecting Minds, Brains and Experiences. Oxford University Press.

Representation (arts). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Representation_(arts)

Cooper, D. (1999). Theories of Art. Companion to Aesthetics.

http://users.rowan.edu/~clowney//Aesthetics/theories_of_art.htm
Videos
Amorsolo. https://youtu.be/D_EkOeVxGCw

Fernando Amorsolo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzoJ_pcZVv4

39
VENUS OF WILLENDORF
She was created around 25,000 years ago,
and is here mention as an excellent
example of early representational art.

▪ Started many millenia ago with Late

Paleolithic figurines and carving.
▪ Example: Venus of Willendorf- while
not too terribly realistic, is clearly
meant to show the figure of a woman.
▪ Throughout our history as art-creating
human, most art has been
representational.

40
 The term 'representation' carries a range of meanings and interpretations. In
literary theory, 'representation' is commonly defined in four ways.
▪ To look like or resemble
▪ To stand in for something or someone
▪ To present a second time; to re-present
▪ More viewer-friendly to vast majority of people than abstract or conceptual
art.
The reflection on representation began with early literary theory in the ideas of
Plato and Aristotle, and has evolved into a significant component of language and
communication studies.

41
 Representationism
KEY The work of representing may seem
CONCEPTS
insufficiently ambitious. As the re-presenting or
imitating of what nature or God has already
created, it can at its best be technically notable,
is but must always be derivative and repetitious. The
beauties of art are very seldom transcriptions, into
a medium, of pre-existing natural beauties.
an image Could we not claim that art is always a
an appearance mimesis (a copying) of nature: if not of nature's
a copy visible appearances, then of its fundamental
energies and their endless transformations?
a reproduction A typical representational account sees art as
of things, people, portraying the visible forms of nature, from a
schematic cave drawing of an animal to the
objects or event. evocation of an entire landscape in sun or storm.
The particularity of individual objects, scenes or
FIGURATIVE ART persons may be emphasized, or the generic, the
Art that contains representation. common, the essential. 42
 REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE
A representational artist may seek
faithfulness to how things are. He or she may
dwell selectively on the ugly and defective, the
unfulfilled; or on the ideal, the fully realized
potential.
The artist may see the ideal as reached by
extrapolating from the empirical, "correcting’ its
deficiencies; or by contemplating the alleged
idea or form to which empirical objects
approximate and aspire.
Representational theories thus give the arts
a distinctive cognitive role. The artist opens our
eyes to the world’s perceptual qualities and
configurations, to its beauties, ugliness's and
horrors.

Van Eyck, The Arnolfini Marriage

43
REPRESENTATION OF THINGS OR OBJECTS REPRESENTATION OF EVENT

Van Gogh, Bedroom at Arles, 1888 Francisco, Mural on the History of the Philippines, 1963

44
 WAYS OF REPRESENTING NATURE
Block of Natural Marble

CHANGING the physical appearance of

PHYSICAL nature, like a natural marble that turn
ALTERATION into a sculpture by carving and cutting. Michaelangelo,
Pieta

ENHANCING the appearance of nature,

SELECTIVE
like a forest that becomes a garden by
MODIFICATION arranging and trimming the plants, or a Forest LANDSCAPING
Art of
woman beautifying herself by putting environmental
cosmetics on her face. Garden design

Copying nature according to the CHOICE

PERCEPTUAL of the artist, but the resulting image is Natural
INTERPRETATION still recognizable, like in the style of Face
representation in cubist and fauvist art. COSMETOLOGY
Art of Facial
Beautified Face Beautification
45
 PERCEPTUAL INTERPRETATION OF NATURE
The way of presenting the subject is ABSTRACTIVE

Dora Photo of
Maar Mrs. Matisse

Real Woman
(Natural Appearance)
Matisse, Portrait of
Mrs. Matisse, 1913

Painting of a Woman Representation in

(Cubist Style) Fauvist Style
46
 DEFINITION OF ART ACCORDING TO EXACT REPRESENTATION
Representationism

is the
recreation of made by the artists
Natural Tree Painting of a Tree
NATURE created by God The more the art resembles nature,
the more it becomes beautiful.

The way of presenting the

subject is REALISTIC
47
 Who was the better painter?
Zeuxis
Zeuxis (or Zeuxippus) was a
Greek painter of the fifth century
BCE. He was born in Heracleia of
Pontus but lived in Athens where
he studied and spent most of his
life. He painted idealised human
figures but specialised in still life.
None of his works survive today
as is common with most ancient
painters.
versus Parrhasius
Parrhasius was born in Ephesus, Ionia (now part of Turkey), and later settled
in Athens. He was praised by ancient critics as a master of outline drawing,
and he apparently relied on subtle contours rather than the new technique of
chiaroscuro to suggest the mass of the human body. He also tried to portray
various psychological states and emotions in his depictions of the face. Many
of his drawings on wood and parchment were preserved and highly valued by
later painters for purposes of study. His picture of Theseus adorned the
Capitol in Rome; other works were chiefly mythological groups. His picture
of the Demos, the personified people of Athens, was particularly famous.
None of his works or copies thereof survive. 48
 Who was the better painter?
Zeuxis was born in Heraclea sometime
around 464 BCE and was said to be the
Zeuxis student of Apollodorus. Parrhasius (or Parrhasius
Parrhasios) of Ephesus was a contemporary
of Zeuxis. Both artists produced works on
both wooden panels and frescoes on walls,
unfortunately none of their work survives.
The two were said to be the best painters of
the fourth century BCE. The elder Pliny
recorded a myth surrounding a competition
between the two painters. It is said that
Zeuxis created grapes that were so realistic
that birds saw the image and attempted to
eat then. Shortly after he went to view
Parrhasius painting, and asked that the
curtain be lifted so he could look at the
image only to discover that the curtain was
itself the painting. Zeuxis acknowledged his
defeat, because while he had tricked birds
the curtain of Parrhasuis had deceived a
man and fellow artist. 49
 Magritte
The Human
TROMPE
Condition
L’OEIL
1933
“trick the eye”

Painting that looks so

realistic that it fools
the eye as if it sees the
real thing.

Magritte
The Human
Condition
1930 50
 WILLIAM
SHAKESPEARE LEONARDO DA VINCI

“Art is putting mirror up “Art is a window to

to nature.” nature.”
“All the world is a stage,
and men and women are
merely players.” 51
 CHINESE ART
The drawing of forms which answer to natural form.

WU TAO TZU (Wu Daozi) Numerous legends gathered around Wu

“Sage in Chinese Painting” Daozi, often concerning commissions
by Emperor Xuanzong.
Form of Form In one, Emperor Xuanzong called him
Nature
= of Art to paint a wall of his palace. He painted a
wall mural displaying a rich nature-scene set
in a valley, containing a stunning array of
flora and fauna and including a cave at the
Art reaches foot of a mountain. The story goes that he
perfection and informed the emperor that it's not just what
the emperor is able to see, Wu Daozi has
become divine made this painting in such a way, that a
spirit dwells in the cave. Next, he clapped
his hands and entered the cave, inviting the
CHIEH TZU YUAN emperor to follow. The painter entered the
“When painting has cave but the entrance closed behind him
reached divinity (shen), and, before the astonished emperor could
STORY: He entered his own
there is an end of move or utter a word, the painting vanished
painting and lost there
the matter.” from the wall. This story depicts the
inside forever.
spirituality of art. 52
 CHINESE ART
The drawing of forms which answer to natural form.

Drawing of a Humanities Zhang Daqian Scenery

Student TAOISM ART
NATURE IN TRADITIONAL
CHINESE PAINTING 53
Constable, Hay Wain
Michelangel
o, God the
Creator,
CHRISTIAN ART Representational Sistine
ICON Religious Images Chapel
Painting
Detail
1512

Pieta,
Michelangelo
1499
Leonardo, The Last Supper, 1498

STYLE
High
Renaissance
Art
Monet, Field of Poppies
54
 ROMANTIC REALISM
Great art is a representational vision of values that dramatizes the beauties of the world and man’s
compatible and efficacious place in it through images that portray a heighten reality, one that not only
brings selected aspects of real life into sharp focus through compelling aesthetics but also communicates
ideas. Classical Realism seeks perfection and universality, the idea of the ideal; e.g., ancient Greek
sculpture.
Romantic Realism seeks personal expression of values, imbuing art with feelings for ideas that the
artist holds passionately about life and humankind, thereby suffusing the work with a glowing emotional
essence.
In Philippine Art
The contemporary Romantic expresses values through images of the present, the here and now, the real
and relevant. Today’s Romantic uses form (the physical presentation) to communicate content (human
values via subject matter) through individual style (emotional expression), thereby making the means and
the end merge, blend, and re-emerge as one totality of experience that unifies mind, body, and soul.
Romantic Realism in Philippine Arts through Fabian dela Rosa and Fernando Amorsolo shown:
▪ aspect of beauty
▪ Idyllic and exotic rural sceneries
▪ Forms of light and shadow
▪ For tourism purposes
55
How do you draw a beautiful scenery when you were young?

56
“Master of Genre” in Philippine Art

Born in Paco, Manila

Studied in Escuela de Bellas Artes
and Academie Julian, Paris France
Director, School of Fine Arts UP
Won Gold and Bronze Award
in St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Awarded Patnubay ng Sining
at Kalinangan, 1968

FABIAN DE LA ROSA
1869-1937
57
 De la Rosa, A Remembrance of Villa
De la Rosa, View of Santa Ana De la Rosa, Pasay Beach 1927 Borghese, 1909

De la Rosa,
Aurora Aragon
De la Rosa, Transplanting Rice, 1904 De la Rosa, El Kundiman, 1930 Quezon
Won Gold Medal, St. Louis Exposition, 1904
58
FERNANDO AMORSOLO
1892-1972
Enrolled in Art School, Liceo de Manila
Studied in UP School of Fine Arts
and Academia de San Fernando, Spain
Made more than 10,000 paintings
Won First Prize, New York Fair, 1939
Dean, UP College of Fine Arts
First Philippine National Artist

Most popular painter in the country

“Grand old man of Filipino painters”
https://youtu.be/D_
EkOeVxGCw “Master of tropical scenery”
“First Filipino impressionist”
https://www.youtu
be.com/watch?v=U
zoJ_pcZVv4 59
 Amorsolo, Leyendo el Periodico, 1908
Won Second Place, Bazar Escolta sponsored
Amorsolo, Afternoon Meal of Rice Workers, 1929 by Asociacion Internacional de Artistas. Amorsolo Rice Plating
Won First Prize, New York Fair 1929 Amorsolo was 16 years old. Shows only aspects of beauty

Amorsolo, Tinikling

60
 Amorsolo, The Market Scene
Amorsolo, Fruit Pickers Under the Mango Tree

61
Amorsolo, The Celebration of the First Mass Amorsolo, The Making of Philippine Flag

62
 ILLUSTRATION IN THE PHILIPPINE READERS

Written by
CAMILO OSIAS
in 1917

Illustrated by
FERNANDO
AMORSOLO

Textbook for elementary

students during the
American period
Amorsolo, Patriotic Pledge
63
 Amorsolo, Amorsolo,
A Woman A Woman
Reading Reading
a Letter, a Letter,
1917 1917

ILLUSTRATION IN ILLUSTRATION IN
PHILIPPINE PHILIPPINE
READER READER

Amorsolo, Amorsolo,
Husband and Roasting
Wife Harvesting Pig, 1917
Banana, 1917

ILLUSTRATION IN ILLUSTRATION IN
PHILIPPINE PHILIPPINE
READER READER
64
 Isidro Ancheta (1882-1946), Batis
AMORSOLO’S FRIEND
Dominador Castaneda (1904-1967),
Women Washing by the Stream
AMORSOLO’S FRIEND
Cesar Buenaventura (1922-1983), Bahay Kubo
AMORSOLO’S INFLUENCE
Cesar Buenaventura, Bahay Kubo
Cesar Buenaventura, Landscape, 1975
Praise for Amorsolo’s Representational Style
Of Romantic Realism
The paintings by Amorsolo are
“True reflection of the Filipino soul.”
Critique
It is highly commercialized, and is meant for
political propaganda by hiding the social reality
under the appearance of order and beauty.
65
 THE COMMON ART SCENERY WE KNOW NOW…
Beauty sa Harap, Pero sa Likod
MMDA Art Vandalism Industrial Valley, Marikina

Marikina Industrial Valley Metro Gwapo Project,

MMDA Bayani Fernando

66
 Manasala, The Madonna of the Slums is said to be the
Madonna of portrayal of a mother and child from the
the Slums, countryside who became urban shanty
1950 residence once in the city. This image were
tightly focus on the two subjects. As what you
can see in the picture is a mother hugging her
sibling with her two hands, as well as the child
holding her mother’s face.
This painting identifies the reality of the
Philippine Society today which describes social
care amidst hardships.
Though the mother is the most happy even
when she suffers pain to give birth for her child,
even how difficult life is, a mother never ever
back down to all life problems and challenges in
PHILIPPINE ART
the world she faces. Mother and child
From Romantic painting portrays the reality of being a mother
Realism even though how difficult life is she is the one
Through always there not only to take good care and give
Modernism love but also the soldier that protect her child in
to Social Realism every time from the world that full of challenges.
67
Instructions: The answer to each question should have at least a minimum of 50 words.

Analysis 1. How do arts affects your perception of being alive? (Lesson 4.1)

Assessment 1. Can you draw a conclusion from this caricature inspired from the
painting of Michael Angelo? (Lesson 4.1)

Reflection 1. Have any of your art skills improved during this project?

68
 RUBRICS FOR GRADING

EXCELLENT ABOVE AVERAGE AVERAGE BELOW AVERAGE POOR

CRITERIA (10 PTS) (8 PTS) (6 PTS) (4 PTS) (2 PT)

Uniqueness of idea Uniqueness of idea Uniqueness of idea Minimal detail Absolute minimal
ANALYSIS: is thorough, is informative and is present, but some provided, needs effort.
Creativity and informative, and well thought. details improvement.
uniqueness demonstrates missing/incorrect.
significant effort.

Message is Message is Message is present, Minimal detail Absolute minimal

ASSESSMENT: thorough, informative and but some details provided, needs effort.
Clarity: Message is informative, and well thought. missing/incorrect. improvement.
clearly addressed demonstrates
significant effort.

The relevance is The relevance is The relevance is Minimal detail Absolute minimal
REFLECTIONS: thorough, informative and present, but some provided, needs effort.
Impact: The idea is informative, and well thought. details improvement.
relevant to present demonstrates missing/incorrect.
situation significant effort. 69
 Module 4 Examples of Pencil or Charcoal Drawing

Make a representational work of art. CHOOSE

ONLY ONE:
a. Select a portrait picture of the model you want to
copy by applying pencil or charcoal drawing and
submit the two together to compare the model
exactly as he or she looks like. Use 1/8 illustration
board for drawing. The process on making your
portrait drawing should be done by using time Examples of Landscape Painting
lapse mode of your cellphone camera. Submit it
together with the final picture of your artwork.
b. Make a landscape painting based on the style of
Romantic Realism in Philippine art. You can use
water color or acrylic paints. Use 1/8 illustration
board for painting. The process on making your
landscape painting should be done by using time
SEE EXAMPLES OF TIME LAPSE:
lapse mode of your cellphone camera. Submit it https://youtu.be/EwfO5EhPiKQ
together with the final picture of your artwork. https://youtu.be/Tno-7P3FhJ0 70
 RUBRICS FOR ACTIVITY 4
Needs
Excellent Good Fair
CRITERIA Improvement
(31-40 points) (21-30 points) (11-20 points)
(1-10)

The artwork does not

The artworks looks The artwork does
Representational The artwork looks look like the model in
like the model except not look like the
Artwork exactly like the model. many parts of the
for some parts. model at all.
composition

The composition
Romantic realism is The composition
Romantic realism is correctly applies
Application of incorrectly applied to does not apply
correctly applied to the romantic realism
Romantic Realism many parts of the romantic realism at
whole composition. except to some parts
composition. all.
of it. DR. ALLAN C. ORATE, UE
71
MODULE 4

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