SUBJECT AND

CONTENT OF ARTS
 Subject Matter
·The subject in art is basically the essence of the
piece. To determine subject matter in a particular
piece of art.
·subject may be thought of as the "what" in a piece of
art: the topic, focus, or image.
 C ont ent
C o nte nt in a wo rk o f a rt re fe rs to wha t is b e ing d e p ic te d a nd
might b e helpful in deriving a b a s i c meaning.
C o nte nt h e l ps to tell stories, and s h a re e m o t i o n s a n d visions.
C o nte nt ho ld s t he m e a ning ful a s p e c t o f t he kno wle d g e to b e
imparted.
C o nte nt is t he re a s o n fo r m a king a p a int ing ." – G e ra ld B ro m m e r.
 SUBJECT TYPES
Representational Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci
Also known as figurative art
because the figures are
observable, easy to make out,
and decipher.
Aims to represent actual
objects from reality.
Representational arts are
Realism, Impressionism,
Idealism, and Stylization
 SUBJECT TYPES
Non-Representational
Head of a
Another way to refer to abstract Woman, Mougins
b y Pablo Picasso
art
Does not represent or depict a
being, a place, or a thing in the
natural world “ The Beauty of Geometry”
The artist will use form, shape,
Abstractions are distorting the view
color, and line to express of a known thing, person, or place. For
emotion, feeling, or some other example, a landscape c a n easily be
concept abstracted, and Picasso often
abstracted people and instruments.
It's also called "complete Nonrepresentational art, on the other
abstraction" or nonfigurative hand, does not begin with a "thing" or
art. subject from which a distinctive
abstract view is formed.
Sub-Categories o f Representational
Arts
Realism
Realism, in the arts, the accurate, detailed,
unembellished depiction of nature or of
contemporary life.
Realism rejects imaginative idealization in favour of
a close observation of outward appearances.

I mpressionism
A 19th-century avant-garde art movement that
originated in France
Against the established art of the French Academy and
the government-sponsored annual exhibitions (Salons)
Gives emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its
changing qualities
Sub-Categories o f Representational
Arts
Idealism
"Metaphysical view"
In art idealism is the tendency to
represent things as aesthetic sensibility
would have them rather than as they are.

Stylization
Is a natural method of rhythmic organization in
decorative art, where the subordination of each
pictorial element to the overall composition is
particularly important.
Source of Subject
 NATURE
refers to the phenomena of the physical world and also
life in general. The inspiration for the subject is nature. It
is also one of the most co m m o n sources of subjects and
the most popular source of objective art. One s u c h
example is the water lilies nature painting b y both old and
contemporary artists.

W A T E R L I L I E S (1919)
CLAUDE MONET
T H E M A K I N G O F T H E P H I L I P P I N E F L A G ( 1898 )
FERNANDO AMORSOLO
HISTORY
is the depiction of events that occurred in the past and
wants to remind u s or let's go b a c k to the important
events in the past or so. to te ach learners about the
lessons of the past. By going b a c k in time, artists are
inspired b y the art they make. An example of this is THE
MAKING O F THE PHILIPPINE FLAG.
GREEK AND ROMAN
MYTHOLOGY Francisco G oya
- Saturn
These are s ource s of subjects that c o m e from the stories of the
D e vo urin g H is
gods and go d d e s s e s of Ancient Greece, Rome, Norse, and Egyptian.
Son
or also called deities of the mythological world, that d e p ict
p re s e nt - d ay humanlike behaviors.

T H E C R E A T I O N O F A D A M (1511-1512)
MICHELANGELO
J U D E O - C H R I S T IA N
TRADITION
Continues the suppression of Jew is hnes s b y hiding the
essential differences between J u d a i s m and Christianity,
one of which is that e a c h denies the validity of the other.
Judeo -Christian derives, in many respects, from the first.
For just a s the term c a n b e used a s a way of including and
binding people together.
SACRED ORIENTAL TEXT
The SAC R E D ORIENTAL TEXT in Hinduism is called The Vedas. It is
the most ancient religious text which defines truth for Hindus.
And Hindus also believe that the texts were received b y scholars
directly from G o d and p a s s e d on to the next generations b y
word of mouth.

T H E L A S T S U P P E R ( 1 4 9 5 - 1498 ) T H E V E D A S (1500-1200 B C E )
L E O N A R D O da VINCI

The artists used inspiration from religious texts s u c h a s

the Bible, Quran, and Turan to co nvey their ideas and
beliefs through their art. It has also been established that
art is considered the handmaid of religion.
DREAMS AND FANTASIES

Explains what the content of the art piece is,

including the hidden meaning behind e a c h work. A
good example of this is the artwork, The Persistence
of Memory.

L U N C H E O N O F T H E B O AT I N G P A R T Y T H E P E R S I S T E N C E O F M E M O R Y (1931)
(1881) P I E R R E - A U G U S T E R E N O I R S A LVA D O R DALI

The subject m ay b e thought of like the what is a pie ce of

art and the topic focus, or image, and the most co m m o n
subjects of art include people. Whether real or imagined,
they are the most interesting. However, we usually only
s e e individuals in artworks, but they c a n also b e groups.
An example of this is the LUNCHEON O F THE BOATING
PARTY.
KINDS O F
SUBJECT
 H IS T O R Y S T IL L L IF E A N IM A L S

J o h a n n e s V e rm e e r, A f t e r t h e Wa l k P h o t o C a p t u r e d b y D i e g o Ve l á z q u e z -
Girl w i t h a P e a r l Martin Zalba H e a d o f a S t a g , c.
Earring, 1 6 6 5 16 3 4
 NATURE

LANDSCAPE
F IG U R E S

T h e O x b o w (The C o n n e c t i c u t
River N e a r Northampton ) -
Thomas Cole

Henri M a t i s s e - Blue Black M e s a Landscape,

Nude N e w Mexico - Out Back of
Marie's - Georgia O ' Ke e f f e
 MYTHOLOGY

SEASCAPE C IT Y S C A P E

D R E A M S & FA N TAS I E S
C o n t e n t in A r t
C o n t e n t in A r t The meaning or message that is
expressed or imparted b y a work of
art.

It is the mass of ideas associated with each

artwork and communicated through the following:
The arts imagery
The symbolic meaning
Surroundings
The customs, beliefs ,and values of the culture
that uses it.
Writings
3 Levels of Meaning

1. Fac tual m e aning

•Literal statement or the narrative content in the artwork can be directly
understood because the objects presented are easily recognized.
2. Conventional meaning
•Special meaning that a certain object or color has for a party culture or a
group of people.
3. Subjective meaning
•Any personal meaning consciously or unconsciously conveyed b y the
artist using private symbolism which stems from his own associations of
certain objects, actions, or colors from past experiences.