Introduction To Art

appreciation
Chapter 1
The Nature of Art

- Art is very important in our lives. It

constitutes one of the oldest and most
important means of expression
developed by man.
Hereunder are some of the definitions given
by various authors:
1. Art is derived from the Latin word “ars,” meaning
ability or skill.
2. Art is taken from Italian word “artis,” which means
craftsman, skill, mastery of form, inventiveness and
the associations that exist between form and ideas,
between material and technique.
3. Art is product of man’s need to express himself.
4. Art is concerned itself with communication of
certain ideas and feelings
5. Art is that which brings life in harmony.
6. Art is an attitude of spirit, a state of mind.
7. Art is the skillful arrangement or composition.
4 common essentials of art:

1. Art must be man-made.

2. Art must be creative, not imitative.
3. Art must benefit and satisfy man-man make
use of art in practical life through artistic
principles, taste, and skill.
4. art is expressed through a certain medium or
material by which the artist communicates
himself to his fellows.
Art appreciation

- Is the ability to interpret or understand man-

made arts and enjoy them either through actual
and work-experience with art tools and
materials or possession of these works of art
for one’s admiration and satisfaction.
The Subject of Art
A subject of art is usually anything that is
represented in the artwork. It may be a person,
object, scene, or event.
Artworks that depict something easily recognized by
most people are called representational or objective
arts.
Artworks that have no resemblance to any real
subject are called non-representational or non-objective
arts.
Four main functions of art
1. Aesthetic function- through art, man becomes
conscious of the beauty of nature.
2. Utilitarian function- with the creation of the various
forms of art, man now lives in comfort and happiness.
3. Cultural function- through the printed matter, art
transmits and preserves skills and knowledge from
one generation to another.
4. Social function- through civic and graphic arts, man
learns to love and help each other.
The Scope of Art
• According to Manaois, there are 2 general
dimensions of arts, namely, (1) fine arts or
independent arts and (2) practical arts or useful or
utilitarian arts.
• According to Custodiosa Sanchez, arts consist of
visual arts, literature, drama and theatre, music, and
dance. Visual arts are those that we perceive with
our eyes. They maybe classified into two groups,
namely: (1) graphic art; and (2) plastic arts.
• Josefina Estolas grouped arts into major and minor
arts, Major arts include painting, architecture,
sculpture, literature, music and dance. Minor arts
include decorative arts, popular arts, graphic arts,
plastic arts, and industrial arts. She also grouped arts
into: visual arts (graphic arts, plastic arts); performing
arts,( theatre, play, dance, music) literary arts (shorts
stories, novel, poetry, dramas); popular arts (film,
newspaper, magazine, radio, television) ; gustatory
art of the cuisine (food preparation, beverage
preparation); and decorative arts or applied arts
( beautify houses, offices, cars and other structures).
• Panizo and Rustia (1995) classified arts into (2) major
division: (1) according to purpose and (2)according to
media and forms:
- according to purpose arts are classified into practical
arts or useful arts, liberal arts, major arts, and minor
arts.
- according to media and forms arts include plastic arts,
phonetic arts, kinetic arts, pure arts, and mixed arts.
- Practical or useful arts are directed to produce artifacts and
utensils for the satisfaction of human needs.
- Liberal arts are directed towards intellectual growth,
such as in the study of philosophy,, psychology,
literature, mathematics, and sciences.
- Fine arts are focused towards creative activity for the
contemplation of the mind, and the uplift of the spirit.
- Major arts are characterized by actual and potential
expressiveness such as music, poetry, sculpture.
- Minor arts are concerned on practical uses and
purposes, such as interior decoration and porcelain
art.
- Plastic arts are developed through space and perceived
by sense of sight.
- Kinetic arts are involve the element rhythm.
- Phonetic arts are directed towards sounds, words as
media of expression.
- Pure arts take only one medium of expression like
sound in music and color in painting.
- mixed arts take more than one medium such as the
opera which combines music, poetry and drama.
 The Origin of art
Art is viewed as reflection of creative and ingenuity and
inventiveness within a culture. It is seen not only in
terms of its styles and craftsmanship but its functional
interaction with all the elements that constitute human
life and culture.
Art started during the primitive time when superstition and
beliefs in the spirits are still very common in every
culture. Art is tribal and indigenous that every ritual and
ceremony is accompanied by dancing, painting, music
and poetry. The primitive art is symbolic. For instance,
the primitive people dance to entertain, to worship their
gods and goddesses, or to invoke success and blessings.
Music and poetry are directed towards the life and
works of their ancestor as well as legendary origins of
heroes, heroines and gods.
Primitive people painted their bodies, caves, and some
parts of their dwelling to symbolizes and represent
something. Sculpture of gods, goddesses were usually
made of wood and clay . The origins of this art is
probably connected with sorcery and magic.
All arts originated in the temples of East and West.
These arts pertain to gods, goddesses, religious
animals, demons, priest, kings, and queens.