INFO SHEET 4
SUBJECT AND CONTENT OF ART
THE SUBJECT OF ART
1. REPRESENTATIONAL OR OBJECTIVE
▪ Depict (represent) objects that are commonly recognized by
people
▪ Use “form” and are concerned with “what” is to be depicted in
the artwork
▪ Portray the subject as it is (objective)
THE SUBJECT OF ART
2. NONREPRESENTATIONAL OR NONOBJECTIVE
▪ Arts without any reference to anything outside itself (without
representation)
▪ Has no recognizable objects
▪ Abstract in the sense that it does not represent real objects in
our world
▪ Uses “content” and is concerned with “how” the artwork is
depicted
SOURCES OF THE SUBJECT OF ART
▪Nature: Most common inspiration and subject
▪History: Conditioned by the historical period in which it is
created
▪Greek and Roman Mythology: Has been a very important
source of subjects in the arts
▪Religion: Played an enormous role in inspiring works of
visual arts, music, architecture, and literature through
ages
▪Sacred oriental texts: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism,
Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, and Islam
THE CONTENT OF ART
▪The meaning, message, and/or feeling
imparted by the work of art
▪Inextricably linked with form, which refers to
the pictorial aspects of art
THE CONTENT OF ART
▪The mass of ideas associated with each artwork
and communicated through the following:
1. The Art’s imagery
2. The symbolic meaning
3. Its surroundings where it is used or displayed
4. The customs, beliefs, and values of the
culture that uses it
5. Writings that help explain the work
LEVELS OF MEANING
1. FACTUAL MEANING
The literal statement or narrative content in
the work that can be directly apprehended
because the objects presented are easily
recognized
LEVELS OF MEANING
2. CONVENTIONAL MEANING
The special meaning that the certain
object or color has for a particular culture
or group of people
LEVELS OF MEANING
3. SUBJECTIVE MEANING
The individual meaning deliberately and
instinctively expressed by the artist using
a personal symbolism that stems from his
own alliance with certain objects, actions,
or colors with past experiences
KEEPING ART
NATIONAL PRIDE AND GLORY: It is good for the economy
and for business (tourism)
MUSEUMS: Repositories of much of the art in most
countries; often reflect the cultural milieu of their founding
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS: Older than museums; have collected
and kept it in palaces or temples for aesthetic pleasure,
personal or ritual use, or display of power
PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION: Enormous human effort
and financial resources are devoted to preserve valuable art
RECAP
▪ Subject of art: Representational (Objective) and
Nonrepresentational (Nonobjective)
▪ Sources of the Subject of art: nature, history, Greek and
Roman mythology, religion, and sacred oriental texts
▪ Content of art (Levels of meaning): factual, conventional,
subjective
▪ Keeping art: national pride and glory, museums and
private collections, preservation and restoration
Reference: Panisan, W., et. al. (2019). Art Appreciation. Mutya Publishing House, Inc.
FOR ASYNCHRONOUS RECITATION
Answer this question:
Can you identify one (1) artwork that
is a national pride and glory of the
Philippines?
