Subject and Content of Art

Overview
This part covers the subject of art, which is as dynamic and forceful as man’s way of life, culture,
and imagination. It never runs out and is never fully exhausted: from the simple concept to the complex
artistic creation. The clearness and simplicity of the subject is vital since the content of the artwork is the
soul of every artistic creation or masterpiece. The subject presented discloses the passion, sincerity, and
conviction of every artist and serves as an extension of his emotions, ideas, or beliefs.

Learning Outcomes: At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. Differentiate content from subject;
2. Classify artworks according to subject;
3. Analyze how artists present their subject in relation to the real subject;
4. Characterize sources and kinds of subject.

Pre-test:
Find a native Philippine product (work of art) such as basket, bracelet, bags, fans, hats, rags,
textile, sandals, placemats, etc. Make a documentation of the artifact: What is its local name? What is it
made of? Its color, size? Who made it? Cultural significance? Other information?
Local Name Material used Color and Size Creator/Artist Cultural
significance

Discussion:
In any art form - painting, music, sculpture, architecture, or dance - there is always a subject
that serves as the foundation of the creation of the work of art. There are unlimited subjects that
surround us. Every second, every minute, we see potential concrete and abstract material that can be
utilized as a subject.

➢ The Subject of Art. It is the matter to be described or to be portrayed by the artist. This may
refer to any person, object, scene, or event. In general, the subject of an artwork is anything under the
sun. The subject could be make-believe, imaginary, and invented, like Cerberus ( a three-headed dog) or
Dyesebel (a popular mermaid character made for film and television). Subjects can also be real events,
ike the devastations brought about by super typhoons entering the Philippines or catastrophic tsunamis
hitting many Asian countries.
Two kinds of Art as to Subject
• Representational or Objective Art - Those arts that depict (represent) objects that are commonly
recognized by most people. They attempt to copy, even if in a subjective manner, something that
is real. They use “form” and are concerned with “what” is to be depicted in the artwork. They
attempt to portray the subject as it is. The artists would try to be as objective as possible.
Examples:
a. Still life- a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically
commonplace objects, which may be either natural (food, flowers, plants, rocks,
or shells) or man-made (drinking glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes,
etc) in an artificial setting.
b. Portrait
c. Landscapes, Seascapes, Moonscapes, Cityscapes
 d. Mythology and Religion, Dreams and Fantasies
•
Non-representational or Nonobjective Art
They are those arts without any reference to anything outside itself (without
representation). This kind of art is nonobjective because it has no recognizable objects. It
is abstract in the sense that it does not represent real objects in our world. It uses
“content” and is concerned with “how” the artwork is depicted. The artists attempts only
to show his ideas and feelings not as objective as the realist or the representational
artist.
Sources of the Subject of Art
1. Nature – animals, people and their activities, natural landscapes
2. History- all art is conditioned by the historical period in which it is created. Rulers like to have
themselves and the deeds of their time perpetuated, consequently, statues and paintings of the
great are found in each civilization.
3. Greek and Roman Mythology
4. Religion and Sacred Oriental texts

• The Content of Art. It is the meaning, message, and/or feeling imparted by a work art. Content is
inextricably linked with form, which refers to the pictorial aspects of art. It is the mass of ideas
associated with each artwork and communicated through the following:
• The Art’s imagery
• The symbolic meaning
• Its surroundings where it is used or displayed
• The customs, beliefs, and values of the culture that uses it
• Writings that help explain the work
The content of the work is what the image means. This may be far more complicated than the subject
matter. The content of Rene Magrittes’s painting invites us to think critically about all the representations
that we see all around us in daily life.

For someone to better understand the content of art, there are three levels of
meaning:
✓ Factual meaning- the most common, the literal statement or narrative
content in the work that can be apprehended because the objects presented
are easily recognized.
Artist René Magritte
✓ Conventional meaning- refers to the special meaning that the certain
Created 1928-1929
object or color has for a particular culture or group of people when it is shown
Medium Oil on canvas
in an artwork.
Period Surrealism
✓ Subjective meaning- refers to the individual meaning deliberately and
Location Los Angeles
County Museum instinctively expressed by the artist using a personal symbolism that stems
of Art
from his own alliance with certain objects, actions, or colors with past
experiences. It becomes fully understandable if the artist gives details of what he really means;
otherwise, it would be interpreted differently by the viewers, or it would communicate multiple
meanings to its varied audience.

➢ Keeping Art: 1. National Pride and Glory – Nation keep art because it is good for the economy and for
business. The major archeological, religious, or architectural sites stimulates the entire economy,
attracts tourists, and generates thousands of local jobs.
2. Museums and Private Collections – Museums are the repositories of much of the art in
most countries and make them available for public viewing through either permanent or temporary
exhibitions. Since the earliest times, rulers, nobles, and priests have collected art and kept it in places
or temples for aesthetic pleasure, personal or ritual use, or display of power. Museums often reflect
the cultural milieu of their founding.
 3. Preservation and Restoration – Because art is valuable, enormous human effort and
financial resources are devoted to preserving art from the ravages of time, the environment,
industrial-by-products, and even any other human being.

Linkages: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Treachery_of_Images
https://www.renemagritte.org/the-son-of-man.jsp
https://www.vincentvangogh.org/at-eternitys-gate.jsp