Subject, Content and Sources of Arts

SUBJECT OF ART
The subject of art may refer to any :
- Person (portraiture)
- Object (still life)
- Scene or Event (landscape, seascape, cityscape)
represented in a work of art.
Arts that have subjects are called
REPRESENTATIONAL ARTS
Arts with subject
▪ PAINTING
▪ SCULPTURE
▪ GRAPHIC ARTS
▪ LITERATURE
▪ THEATER
NON-REPRESENTATIONAL ARTS
do not present descriptions, stories or references to identifiable
objects or symbols; they appeal directly to the senses because of the
satisfying organization of their sensuous and expressive elements.
Presentation of Subject
I. REALISM
[France,1850]
when objects are depicted in the way they would normally appear
in nature, the presentation is said to be realistic.
Grapes by Zeuxiz 5th Century artist

Curtain by Parrhasius
 Zeuxis and Parrhasius

“Mango Picker” By Fernando Amorsolo

 “Christian Virgins Exposed” By Felix R Hidalgo
II. ABSTRACTION
Latin abs = “away” + trahere = “draw”
“drawn away from objective reality”
▪ when an artist becomes so engrossed in one phase of a scene that he does not
show the subject at all as an objective reality, but only his idea of it, or his feeling
about it, this is referred to as abstraction.

Cubism
 The Three Musicians Pablo Picasso 1921

Gitara
Vicente Manansala
1921

Vicente Manansala
 Vicente Manansala

“Nude and Still Life” by: Pablo Picasso

 “Violin and Guitar” by: Pablo Picasso

“Les Demoiselles d’ Avignon” by: Pablo Picasso

 “Aquarium”By: Josef Albers
III. Distortion
An abstraction technique employed by the artist to dramatize the shape of a
figure to create an emotional effect;
the figure has been drawn so that proportions differ from the natural
appearance and measurements; it may also mean “twisting.”

“The Weeping Woman” by: Pablo Picasso

“The Old Guitarist” By: Pablo Picasso

“Potato Eater” by Vincent Van Gogh

 “Camote Digger” by Carlos “Botong” Francisco

Abstract Expressionism
The artists apply paint rapidly, with force to their huge canvases in an effort
to show feelings and emotions, applying paint with large brushes, non-
geometrically, sometimes dripping or even throwing it into the canvas.
-It is influenced by the Existentialist philosophy, which emphasized the
importance of the act of creating, not of the finished object. What matters
for the artist are the qualities of the paint itself and the act of painting itself.
JACKSON POLLOCK
Abstract Expressionism

IV. SURREALISM
a combination of realism and distortion

“The Persistence of Memory”

By Salvador Dali
“EcoBug” By Oddin Sen
V. SYMBOLISM

Death and The Masks James Ensor 1897

“Is the Scale Broken” By Oddin Sena
 Spoliarium Juan Luna 1884
Gold Medal, Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes Madrid, Spain

VI. FAUVISM
▪ From the French “les fauves,” which means “the wild beasts.”
▪ It is an artistic movement of the last part of the 19th century which
emphasized spontaneity and use of extremely bright colors.
▪ To a fauvist, for example, a tree trunk need not be brown. It could be
bright red, purple or any other color.

“Le chat aux poissons rouges” (The Cat with Red Fish) by Henry Matisse
 “Goldfish”
by Henry Matisse
Henri Matisse, French
artist, was known for his
use of color and his fluid,
brilliant and original
draughtsmanship. As a
draughtsman, printmaker,
and sculptor, but principally
as a painter, Matisse is one
of the best-known artists of
the 20th century.
He was initially labeled as
VII. IMPRESSIONISM a Fauve (wild beast).
▪ It is also referred to as optical realism due to its interest in the
actual viewing experience, including such things as the effect
of color, light and movement on the appearance of the
objects depicted in the artworks. Impressionism focused on
directly describing the visual sensations derived from nature.
▪ Claude Monet is widely recognized as the father of the
Impressionist movement, and his work Impression: Sunrise is
widely recognized as the first work of this new movement.
Fascination with color, light and movement formed the core
of the Impressionism movement.
VIII. DADAISM
IX. FUTURISM
• Futurism was presented as a modernist movement celebrating
the technological, future era. The car, the plane, the industrial
town were representing the motion in modern life and the
technological triumph of man over nature
SOURCES of Art Subjects
1. NATURE
2. HISTORY or CULTURE
3. MYTHOLOGY
4. RELIGION

NATURE
Aspects of nature – animals, people, and landscapes – have been the
most common inspiration and subject matter for art.
HISTORY or CULTURE

All art is conditioned by the historical period in which it is created. The

dress, the houses, the manner of living, the thoughts of a period are
reflected in the work of the artist.

“Katipunan” Carlos “Botong” Francisco

Greek and Roman MYTHOLOGY
Stories from mythology center on the gods, goddesses, and heroes –
these captured the imagination of artists.
 Perseus and Andromeda” by Peter Paul Reubens
RELIGION
Since prehistoric era until the present time, there was no difference
between religion and art.

The Sea of Galilee” by Rembrandt

Carlos “Botong” Francisco gallery

 “Pieta” by Michelangelo

Z
FUNCTIONS OF ART
▪ PHYSICAL FUNCTION
▪ SOCIAL FUNCTION
Art and its SOCIAL Function
Social behavior is influenced by many works of art. This is manifested
by the way we think, feel, move, or decide. Advertisements greatly
influence the social behavior of the individual. Art tends to influence
the collective behavior of people for cause.
Art and its PHYSICAL Function
Many works of art were primarily made to perform functions to make
our lives comfortable. Whenever art has function, this function
influences and determines “form.” Functions change according to
form, and if there are many functions, there will be many forms.
What is the function of MUSIC?
MUSIC
Dance & Religion are the two sources of Music; Music is the art of
combining and regulating sounds of varying pitch to produce
compositions expressive of ideas and emotions that are pleasing. In
dance, music is essential to mark the rhythm.
What is the function of SCULPTURE?

SCULPTURE
In the Medieval and the Renaissance church, sculpture in walls and
panels were used for instructional purposes;
Commemoration of the lives of important people can also be
considered function of sculpture.
What is the function of ARCHITECTURE?

ARCHITECTURE
TYPES OF ARTS
- VISUAL ARTS
- AUDITORY ARTS
▪ Painting, sculpture, architecture, tapestry, and glassware are examples
of VISUAL ARTS, also called “Space Arts”.
▪ Music and literature are AUDITORY ARTS, also called “Time Arts”.
▪ Theater, Opera, and Cinema are called
“Combined Arts”
MAJOR and APPLIED ARTS
▪ The five major arts are music, literature, painting, sculpture, and
architecture. Major arts generally express an emotion or idea – or
both.
▪ The applied or minor arts are metalwork, weaving, ceramics, glass,
furniture, photography, lettering, bookmaking, and the like. Applied or
minor arts generally do not express emotion or idea but skills and
craftsmanship.
ACTIVITY 1
In 6 sentences only (for each item) :
1. What is Art? What Art is not?
2. Distinguish – Representational from Non-representational Arts
3. Distinguish – Space Arts from Time Arts.
4. Distinguish – Physical from Social Functions of Art
5. What are sources of the Arts? In what ways are these sources
presented?