LESSON 2: THE
SUBJECTS AND
METHODS OF
PRESENTING THE
ARTS
Objectives
Identify and describe the various subjects
of art.
Differentiate the various methods of presenting
art.
Analyze and interpret an artwork.
SUBJECT OF ART
- refers to the main idea that is represented in the artwork.
The subject in art is basically the essence of the piece. It
answers the following questions:
What is actually depicted in this artwork?
What is the artist trying to express to the world?
What is his or her message?
How are they conveying that message?
1. Landscapes, Seascapes
and Cityscapes
• Landscapes- are a genre of art that captures scenic view.
• Cityscape- is a work that showcases aspects of cities.
• Seascapes- refer to art works that depict the sea.
Scene on a navigable River by John Constable Flatford Mill
2. Animals
• Along with the human form, animals were
subjects of the earliest art ever created.
• For prehistoric artists, beasts represented
food but were also sacred, spiritual beings.
• Animals remained a vital component of all art
in all cultures.
Lascaux by Bull, Cave Art
3. Human Figures, Portraits, and Couples
• In aesthetics, the human figure or human form in art,
sculpture and other art formal involves a study and
appreciation of the beauty of the human body in its
depiction or presentation.
• Kant refers to the human figure as the ideal of beauty. His
i deal of human beauty i m p l i e s t h a t a p e r s o n ' s f a c e c a n b e
beautiful only if its form is consistent with what nature
intends in the human face.
Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci
4. Everyday Life or Genre
• Painting of scenes from everyday life, of
ordinary people at work or recreation,
depicted in a generally realistic manner.
The Fruit Gatherer by Fernando Amorsolo
5. Still Life
• A painting or drawing of an arrangement of
objects, typically including fruit and
flowers and objects contrasting with these
in texture, such as bowls and glassware.
Still Life with Flowers by Oosterwyck Maria Van
6. Image of Divinity
• This is any artwork that has a Christian or
Biblical theme.
Pieta by Michelangelo
7. Narration and Historical
• It depicts a moment in a narrative story.
Spoliarium by Juan Luna
METHODS OF
PRESENTING THE
ART
[Link] Realistic Painting of Cristiano Ronaldo
• It is the attempt to portray the
subject as is.
• The artist selects, changes, and
arranges details to express the
idea he wants to make clear.
• The artist main function is to
describe accurately what is
observed through the senses.
2. Abstract
• it means to move away or separate. The art work is not
realistic.
1. Distortion- a kind of abstract method where the subject is
in misshaped condition.
2. Cubism- Subjects are shown in basic geometrical shapes.
3. Mangling- Subjects are cut, lacerated, mutilated or hacked.
4. Elongation- The subject is lengthened for protraction or
extension.
The Air of September by
Jeffrey Hessing (Distortion)
2. Abstract
• it means to move away or separate. The art work is not
realistic.
1. Distortion- a kind of abstract method where the subject is
in misshaped condition.
2. Cubism- Subjects are shown in basic geometrical shapes.
3. Mangling- Subjects are cut, lacerated, mutilated or hacked.
4. Elongation- The subject is lengthened for protraction or
extension.
Colonial Cubism by Stuart Davis
2. Abstract
• it means to move away or separate. The art work is not
realistic.
1. Distortion- a kind of abstract method where the subject is
in misshaped condition.
2. Cubism- Subjects are shown in basic geometrical shapes.
3. Mangling- Subjects are cut, lacerated, mutilated or hacked.
4. Elongation- The subject is lengthened for protraction or
extension.
Mangling Art by Han Xiao
2. Abstract
• it means to move away or separate. The art work is not
realistic.
1. Distortion- a kind of abstract method where the subject is
in misshaped condition.
2. Cubism- Subjects are shown in basic geometrical shapes.
3. Mangling- Subjects are cut, lacerated, mutilated or hacked.
4. Elongation- The subject is lengthened for protraction or
extension.
Ego- Alter Ego by Akzhana Abdalieva (Elongation)
Still Life: An Allegory of the
Vanities of Human Life by Harmen Steenwyck
3. Symbolism
• The presentation of an invisible
sign such as an idea or a quality
into something visible.
The Green Line: Portrait of Madame
Matisse by Matisse Henri
4. Fauvism
• It is an art movement of the
1900s by Henri Matisse, Andre
D e r a i n , Ra o u l D u f y , a n d G e o r g e
Rouault.
• Fauve artists used pure,
brilliant color aggressively
applied straight from the paint
tubes to create a sense of an
explosion on the canvas.
Murdering Airplane by Max Ernst 1920
5. Dadaism
• Protest movement formed in
1916 by a group of artist in
Zurich, Switzerland.
• They try to provoke the public
with outrageous forms of arts.
It came from the French word
"dada" meaning "hobby horse".
Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash
by Giacomo Balla, 1912
6. Futurism
• This work aims to capture the
speed and force of modern
industrial society and to glorify
the mechanical energy of
modern life.
Bird’s Cocktail by Gennady Privedentsev
7. Surrealism
• Surrealism came from the slang
of super realism.
• It is founded by French poet
Andre Breton in 1924.
• It tries to represent fantastic
and unnatural themes of higher
reality.
• It aims to create a magical
world more beautiful than the
real one through art.
The Scream by Edvard Munch
8. Expressionism
• It can be described as pathos,
morbidity, violence or chaos,
and tragedy.
Thank
You!
