ART APPRECIATION

UNIT 2
SUBJECT AND CONTENT
Unit 2 shall focus on helping students to answer questions by investigating the subject of works of art.
This will provide a guide for gathering clues embedded in works of art, as well as an introduction to searching
for the underlying meaning and messages that are present in many works of art. Students will work, step by step,
through the layers of meaning, delving more deeply into these layers with each work as they progress through
the different lessons presented.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this module, you should be able to:
1. Differentiate representational and non-representational art;
2. Discuss the difference between an artwork’s subject and content;
3. Identify the subject matter and specific examples of art; and
4. Enumerate the sources of the subjects of some of the most recognizable works of art.

Lesson 1: THE SUBJECT OF AN ARTWORK

Subject – in arts refers to the main idea that is represented in the artwork - is basically the essence of the piece

• What is actually depicted in this artwork?

• What is the artist trying to express to the world?
• What is his/her message?
• And how are they conveying that message?

TYPES OF ARTWORKS
1. Representational Art
- Objective Art / Figurative Art
- art pieces which use a specific subject
- generally refers to a
painting or sculpture
that is clearly
recognizable for what
it claims to be
2. Non-representational Art
- Non-objective Art / Non-figurative Art
- compositions which do not rely on representation
- personal expression of an artist's subjective
experience

Abstract – aims to take subjects from reality but present

them in way that is different from the way they are viewed
in our reality
Lesson 2: THE SOURCES OF SUBJECT
1. Nature
- equivalent to the natural world, physical universe, material world or material universe
- refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general
- considered the most commonly used source of art

2. People
- considered the most interesting subject of an artwork which may be real or imagined
- as subjects may be presented as individuals or groups and may perform tasks as how they do in their everyday
life
3. History - depiction of factual events that occurred in the past whose purpose is either to remember important
events of long ago or to teach the learners about the lessons of the past

4. Legend - present to viewers of the art something tangible even when unverified. Art brings life
5. Religion - used as inspiration by artists (through the Bible, Quran and Torah) in conveying their ideas and
beliefs through their art works

6. Mythology - come from the stories of gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece, Rome, Norse and Egyptians
7. Dreams and Fantasy – expresses the wonders of the unconscious

8. Technology – showcases the modernity of the present; wondrous use of machines, the towering skyscrapers,
state of the art robotics technology, top of the line transportation machineries as cars, ships and motorcycles

Lesson 3: WAYS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT

After the artist has decided on the source of the subject of his artwork, he is now ready to identify the method of
how he wants his art work to be presented to his viewers. The following are some of the methods or ways on
how an artist presents his subject to his audience.
1. Naturalism 5. Fauvism 9. Expressionism
2. Realism 6. Dadaism
3. Abstraction 7. Futurism
4. Symbolism 8. Surrealism
1. Naturalism
- in art, refers to the depiction of realistic objects in a
natural setting
- began in the early Renaissance, and developed itself
further throughout the Renaissance
- a type of art that pays attention to very accurate and
precise details, and portrays things as they are
- always depict pieces showing the idealized human
form.

2. Realism
- in art, generally the attempt to represent subject
matter truthfully, without artificiality and avoiding
speculative fiction and supernatural elements
- realist or naturalist works of art may, as well or
instead of illusionist realism, be "realist" in their
subject matter, and emphasize the mundane, ugly or
sordid
- most popular way of presenting art subjects

3. Abstraction
- finds its roots in ‘intuition’ (of the artist) and ‘freedom’ (for the artist as
well as for the viewer)
- art movement emerged in the nineteenth century as a reaction to
academic painting or realism.
- think of it as a visual opposite of realistic art
- method of presenting the subject where the artist moves away from
reality
a. Distortion
- alteration of the original shape (or other characteristic) of
something
- any change made by an artist to the size, shape or visual
character of a form to express an idea, convey a feeling or
enhance visual impact
b. Elongation
- is when the art subject is lengthened, protracted or extended

c. Mangling
- Artists show the subject as cut, lacerated, mutilated or hacked with
repeated blows.

d. Cubism
- presentation of abstract figures through
the use of a cone, cylinder, sphere,
triangle, square, cube and circle in place
of real pictorial elements

4. Symbolism
- use of a visible sign
of an idea to convey to
the viewers, readers
or audiences the
message of his work.
- mystery is
advocated by
an art work
making it more
interesting to
the viewers

5. Fauvism
- name applied
to the work
produced by a group of artists (which included Henri
Matisse and André Derain) from around 1905 to 1910,
which is characterised by strong colours and fierce
brushwork.
* Le les fauves (‘the wild beasts’) was coined by the
critic Louis Vauxcelles when he saw the work of
Henri Matisse and André Derain in an exhibition, the
salon d’automne in Paris, in 1905.
6. Dadaism
- a protest movement in the art that is playful and experimental. “Dada” means a
“hobby horse”. Dadaism is most often nonsensical
- considered a revolt against tradition because it does not follow the principles in
art and shows the wickedness of society in its presentation
- aim of this method is to shock and provoke its viewers.

7. Futurism
- developed in Italy about the same time as cubism appeared in France
- Futurist painters wanted their works to capture the mechanical energy of modern life.

8. Surrealism
- mirrors the evils of the
present society
- means super realism,
influenced by Freudian
psychology which
emphasizes the activities of
the subconscious state of the
mind.
- art movement began in
Paris in 1924 by the French
poet Andre Breton
- surrealist’s aim is to reveal the
deep and ugly part of human nature.

9. Expressionism
- art works describing pathos, morbidity, chaos or even defeat and
was introduced in Germany from 1900 – 1910
- Expressionists believe that man needs spiritual rebirth for him to
correct defects that ruin the society.