ART APPRECIATION

THREE BASIC COMPONENTS OF A WORK OF ART

 SUBJECT - The visual focus or the image that may be extracted from examining the artwork; the
“what”
 CONTENT - The meaning that is communicated by the artist or the artwork; the “why”\
 FORM - The development and configuration of the art work - how the elements and the medium
or material are put together; the “how”

TYPES OF SUBJECT

 REPRESENTATIONAL ART - These types of art have subjects that refers to objects or events
occuring in the real world.
- Also termed figurative art because the figures depicted are easy to make
out and decipher.
- a higher, level of perceptiveness and insight might be required to fully
grasped the feeling, emotion, or concept behind the work.

Mona Lisa - it is clear that the painting is of a woman that is realistically-proportioned.

- A beguiling and mysterious smile is flashed and the background is a landscape.

 NON-REPRESENTATIONAL ART - Art forms that do not make a reference to the real world,
whether it is a person, place, thing, or even a particular event.
- It is stripped down to visual elements, such as shapes, lines, and colors that
are employed to translate a particular feeling, emotion, and even concept.
- it is easier to infer the subject matter because from figures depicted in the
artwork, there is already a suggestion as to its implication.
SOURCES OF SUBJECT
 Nature
 History
 Greek and Roman mythology
 Judeo-Christian tradition
 Sacred oriental texts
 other works of art

KINDS OF SUBJECT
 STILL LIFE - is a work of art depicting mostly animate subject matter, typically common place
objects, which may either natural (food, flower, plants, rocks or shells) or man-made (drinking
glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins and so on) in an artificial setting.
 PORTRAIT - is a painting, photograph, figure, or any other art forms in which the face and its
expression is predominant. The purpose may be to show the resemble, personality, or
disposition of the individual.
 LANDSCAPES, SEASCAPES, MOONSCAPES, AND CITYSCAPE.
 MYTHODOLOGY AND RELIGION, DREAMS AND FANTASIES.

CONTENT IN ART - The meaning or message that is expressed or communicated by the artwork.
 - In understanding the content of art, it is important to note that there are
various levels of meaning:
 FACTUAL MEANING - The most rudimental level of meaning
for it may be extracted from the identifiable or recognizable
forms in the artwork and understanding how these
elements relate to one another.
 CONVENTIONAL MEANING - Pertains to the acknowledged
interpretation of the artwork using motifs, signs, and
symbols and other cyphers as bases of its meaning.
- These conventions are established through time,
strenghthened by recurrent use and wide
acceptance by its viewers or audience and scholars
who study them.
 SUBJECTIVE MEANING - When subjectivities are consulted,
a variety of meanings may arise when a particular work of
art is read.
- These meanings stem from the viewer’s or
audience’s circumstances that come into play when
engaging with art (what we know, what we learned,
what we experienced; what values we stand for).

WAYS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT

REALISM - It depicts the artist’s attemp to portray the subject as it is. Realists try to be as objective as
possible in their subject presentation. A work of art is realistic when the presentation and organization
of details in work seem so real, just like a photograph. Realism is the most popular way of presenting are
subjects.

ABSTRACTIONISM - Abstract means “to move away or to separate from”. Abstractionism as subject
presentation moves away from reality, from presenting the subject as it is.

- It involves simplifying or reorganizing the work’s characteristics and

elements to adhere to the artist’s level of artistic expression.

CUBISM - The abstract form is presented through figures: a cone, sphere, cylinder, triangle, square,
cube, and circle in place of real pictorial elements. The Cubists want to show forms in their basic
geometrical shapes.

SYMBOLISM - A symbol is a visible sign of something invisible such as an idea or quality. Symbols in art
draw the viewers’ attention to what other message the artist may be trying to convey aside from what is
obviously observed.

FAUVISM - This subject presentation began in France and was the first organized movement in the
painting of the 1900s.

- Fauvism means wild beast. The Fauves did not express ethical, philosophical, or
psychological themes but painted pictures of comfort, joy, and pleasure.
DADAISM - Dada is a French hobby horse. It is an art movement that doesn’t follow the traditions and
principles of art.

- It is a revolt agaisnt tradition and aims to show the wickedness of society.

FUTURISM - This art movement began in Italy. Artist of this movement wanted their works to capture
the speed and force of modern industrial society. Their paintings and sculptures highlight the
technologies of contemporary life.

SURREALISM - Surrealism is an invented word for super-realism. The French poet Andre Breton began
the art movement in Paris in 1924.

- It emphasized the activities of the subconscious mind.

- Subject in this kind of presentation attempt to show man’s inner mind and how he may
perceive his outside world.

IMPRESSIONISM - The impressionism movement started in France, which led to a break from the
tradition in European painting.

- Impressionism is a style of painting that emerged in the mid-to late 1800s.

EXPRESSIONISM - This art movement occured during the first decade of the 20th century in Germany,
where this art style was introduced. Expressionists believe that man needs spiritual rebirth for him to
correct defects that ruin society.