THE SUBJECTS OF

ART AND THE

METHODS OF
PRESENTING THEM

The Subjects of Art

A. What is a subject of art?
The subject of art is the matter to be

described or to be portrayed by the

artist. The subject of art is varied. This
may refer to any person, object, scene,
or event.

B. Two Kinds of Art as to

Subject:
1. Representational Art / Objective Art

- They are those arts which depict (represent)

objects that are commonly recognized by most
people. They attempt to copy, even if in a
subjective manner, something that is real. It
uses form and is concerned with what is to
be depicted in the artwork.

2.

Non-representational Art / Non-objective

Art
They are those arts without any reference to anything
outside itself. It is non-objective 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.
Some contemporary painters have shifted their interest
to the work of art as an object itself, an exciting
combination of shapes and colors that fulfills the aesthetic
needs without having to represent images or tell a story.
Many modern paintings have a purely visual appeal, so
difficult that literal oriented spectators cannot appreciate
them.

Structure of an Artwork
1.

Art Work
An artwork is considered as one when

the following measures are met.

a) Genuineness
b) Aesthetic quality
c) Mastery of skill

2.

Subject
a) In general the subject matter of an

artwork is anything under the sun.

b) A subject could be make-believe,
imaginary and invented like a cerberus,
and a mermaid, or real events like the
devastation brought by typhoon Yolanda,
or the catastrophic tsunami that hit many
Asian countries in 2004.
c) There are three (3) ways of representing
the subject: abstract, distorted or realist.

3.

Artist

An artist is an individual who exhibits

exceptional skills in any of the various art
forms like the visual and performing arts or an
individual trained or with mastery of specific or
multiple artistic capacities.
b) An artist may be one who is acclaimed by
experts or patrons, like Vincent Van Gogh or
Leonardo Da Vinci.
c) An artist unlike other people, is more sensitive
and creative.
d) There are two kinds of Artist:
a)

Creators
Performers

MEDIUM AND
TECHNIQUE

1.

Three major categories of an

artwork:
a) Visual artworks (2D) include

painting, mosaic, prints, photography,

and digital arts.
b) Practical (3D) artworks include
sculpture and architecture.
c) Performing arts artworks include
dance, music, film/theater and
literature.

2.

Purpose
1. There are hundreds of purposes why an artwork is

made but the following are generally accepted:

Recording appearance Cave paintings, portraits and

landscapes are examples of how artworks could
record images of man and nature.
Making the invisible visible The gods of the
Egyptians are well-presented in their temples, tombs
and pyramids.
Communication The passion of the Christ presented
in the station of the cross on churches is a potent
tool in sharing the basic foundation of Christian faith
which is the pain, suffering , crucifixion, death and
rise of the messiah and salvation of mankind.

a)

Delighting The beautiful geometrical designs of the

house of prayer and worship of the Muslim which is
the Mosque does not only represent their culture and
faith; they are also sights that could make us awe
with its fine touch and grandeur of styles.

3.

The Viewer, Patron or Critique

a) Elite or the Patron has more refined taste and

appreciation of artworks.
b) Ordinary person the general public
c) Connoisseur the evaluators, appreciator and
authenticators of an artwork.
d) Fellow artist a fellow who has different styles and
preferences and who may despise a fellow artists
masterpiece.

4.

Impression of the Viewer, Patron

or Critique
There are only two (2) impressions of an

artwork it is either to appreciate or

critique it.