Lesson 4

Representation,
Subject, and Content
in Art
 Introduction:

• People cease to be human beings if they fail to feel, evoke emotions and feelings, and
understand what others feel.

• In the course of a person’s journey in life, the need to express life experiences, dreams,
and aspiration is inevitable.

• In expressing ourselves, human beings have thought of creative ways to communicate

ideas and thoughts.
 Introduction:

• In this manner, arts have become a tool for self-expression, a vehicle to vent out
feelings and emotions, and share experiences with others that are portrayed as
subjects in an art form.
Understanding
Content from
Subject
 Introduction:
• Art works may be appreciated through its basic components.

• Subject and content are art components that must be understood, not only by the artist
but also by the onlook.

• An artist chooses a subject to portray and must understand why such subject is being
portrayed or being depicted in the artwork.

• An onlooker or a spectator of an art work may transition to become an aesthete if

• he or she fully understands the components of an art work.
Subject
• Object than an onlook sees in the artwork.

• Object or objects being represented.

• The most recognizable or identifiable image in the work of

art.

• Whatever that represented in a body of art work.

• The foundation of the creation of the work of art.

• A subject could be:

–Person
–Thing
–Event
–Situation as depicted by the artist
Content
• The meaning that the image/s portray
or depict in a work of art.

• It is the message that the artwork wants

to convey through the use of the
subject.

Note:
One’s interpretation of a message may
vary according to one’s cultural
understanding or upbringing or a subject
may give a universal meaning.
Sources of
Subject
 Introduction:

• There is no dearth or scarcity in subjects.

• Subjects can come from many sources and artists have the freedom to use and
depict them according to their interpretation.
• Nature
– Anything around us can be used as subjects.
– Seascape, landscape, the trees in the forest, the animals, etc.

• History
– Sime time is immemorial, past events that were relevant part
of history have become sources of subjects for artists.
– Art history, people are able to understand, appreciate, and
come to terms with humanity’s past which connects important
awareness and knowledge to the present.

• Mythology
– Myths are stories that explain why the world is the way it is.
– All cultures have them.
– Throughout history, artists have been inspired by myths and
legends and have been given them visual form.
• Judeo-Christian tradition
– A basic understanding of this source of subject refers to the
doctrines of Judaism and Christianity.
– When used as subject in art, they could pertain to God’s
creation, God’s covenant with Abraham, God’s issuance of
commandments, and God’s promise to send a messiah.

• Sacred Oriental Texts

– Include Vedas able and the Upanishads, and also the
Bhagavad Gita.
– These texts are holy writing that contains Hindu teachings,
law, and philosophies.

• Etc.
Artworks According
to Subject
1. Representational Art
or
Objective Art
 Description:
• Refers to art works that show objects existing in reality.

• These subjects in an art work are in fact representations of what

one see in real life.

• These art works are easily identified or recognized because of its ability to copy
imitate objects from the real world.
 Description:
▪Arts that describe or depict a person, object, scene, or situation.

▪Art works that depict something easily identified by most people.

▪Arts with subject

▪E.g. painting, sculpture, literature, and theater arts, etc.

 Self-portrait of Rembrandt
Artist: Rembrandt

Fur Traders Descending the Missouri

Artist: George Caleb Bingham

Fur Animal Acrylic Painting

Apollo and Daphne
by: Gian Lorenzo Bernini Artist: F Tonning

Mona Lisa
by: Leonardo Da Vinci
Kinds of
Art
Subject
1. Portrait ▪ Refers to the representation of a particular
person.

▪ A likeness of a person in a painting, photograph,

drawing, sculpture, etc.

▪ A portrayal or depiction of a person’s appearance

whether in painting, photograph, or sculptural
work or other medium.

▪ An art work that aims to portray the likeness of a

person in a detailed manner.

▪ This manner of representation because it tries to

show the societal background of a person or the
intense feelings or emotion of the subject at the
time it was portrayed.

Self-portrait of Rembrandt ▪ PORTRAITURE

Artist: Rembrandt ▪ The manner of creating portraits
2. Daily life/Everyday life

▪ Shows the anecdotal and familiar scenes of daily

life.

▪ It could be indoor or outdoor depiction and

representation of everyday life.

▪ The things that we normally see in our daily life.

Fur Traders Descending the Missouri

Artist: George Caleb Bingham
3. Still Life
▪ The subjects are still and they do not move.

▪ Depicts inanimate objects that are either natural

(flower, plants, rocks, etc.) or man-made (cup,
ball, etc.)

▪ Artists have used techniques to make art works

using still life come to life.

▪ Mundane things around us become special or

unique when they are depicted in paintings or
photographs.

▪ When captured using the appropriate medium,

Still Life with Ham, Lobster, and Fruit
Artist: Artist: Jan Davidsz de Heem the once ordinary object comes to life.
4. Animals

▪The subject for this kind of art is

obviously animals.

Love Story in Nature

Photographer; Yve
5. Figures

▪Figurative art

▪A strong reference to the

human figure and to the
real world

Untitled
Photographer: Alan Schaller
6. Scape(s)
Mont Sainte-Victoire and
Viaduct of the Arc River Valley
Artist: Paul Cezanne
▪ A view or a picture of a scene.

▪ It could be (1) landscape; means a portion of land

or territory including all the objects it contains,
(2) seascape; depicts the sea or shoreline or simply
the appearance of the sea, (3) cityscape; portrays
the skylines and the sceneries in an urban
environment.

Cityscape
Artist: Po Pi Lin

Seascape
Artist: Joaquin Sorolla
7. History

▪The subject is usually drawn to

history.

▪Historical subjects and are inspired

by

Lady Liberty Leading the People

Artist: Eugene Delacroix
8. Legend

▪ The subject of the artwork depicts

and/or inspired by the legend (a
traditional story sometimes popularly
regarded as historical but
unauthenticated)

Si Malakas at Si Maganda
Artist: Mariliza Reyes-Bulaong
9. Religion

▪ The subject of the artwork depicts

and/or inspired by the religion
(religious figures and icons)

The Last Supper

Artist: Leonardo Da Vinci
10. Mythology

▪The subject of the artwork depicts

and/or inspired by mythology (the
myths dealing with the gods, demigods,
and legendary heroes of a particular
people)

The Birth of Venus

Artist: Sandro Boticelli
11. Dreams

▪The subject of the artwork depicts

and/or inspired by dreams.

The Persistence of Memory

Artist: Salvador Dali
12. Fantasy
▪The subject of the artwork depicts
and/or inspired by fantasy or
dreamland.

▪A mixture of imagination and direct

observation of reality.

▪It takes reality and adds a fanciful,

unrealistic, fantastic, dreamy, wistful
feeling to it. Essentially the result of
artists with wild imaginations
(Art History Archive)
Worlds within Worlds
Artist: Miller James
 2. Non-
Representational Art or
Non-Objective Art
 Description:
▪Refers to any work of art that does not portray any recognizable object from the
real world.

▪Simply shows elements of arts such as color, line, or shapes. It does not show a
picture or an image that may be linked to reality or a copy of what is seen in
nature.
 Description:
▪Arts that do not have subjects

▪Art works that have no resemblance to any real subject; do not represent
anything.

▪They rather appeal to the senses because of the satisfying organization of their
elements.

▪Arts that do not present identifiable objects or symbols

▪E.g. architecture and musical pieces

Content in
Art
 Introduction:

• Content in art refers to the meaning or significance, and / or feeling imparted by a

work of art.

• It is the meaning that is derived from the interpretation of the onlooker.

Levels of
Content
1. Factual
 Introduction:

• Literal representation

• Rudimentary level of meaning

• Extracted by identifiable or recognizable forms in the artwork.

• Image that one sees on the art form

• Identifiable subject in the work of art.

Reference: PNGEGG
2. Conventional
 Introduction:

• Special meaning related to religion or culture.

• The acknowledged interpretation of the artwork using motifs, signs and symbols,
and other cyphers as bases of its meaning.

• These conventions are established through time, strengthened by current use and
wide acceptance by viewers or audience and scholars who study them.
 Introduction:

• Refers to the universal or special meaning that is attached by a group to a

Subject.

• The level of meaning is conventional when a group, community or nation has a

collective association or interpretation to such a subject.
Reference: Collins Dictionary
3. Subjective
 Introduction:

• A variety of meanings may arise when a particular art work is read.

• Meanings stem from the viewer’s circumstances that come into play when engaging
with art (knowledge, experiences, values, etc.)

• Meanings may be multiple and varied.

• Refers to the artist’s personal interpretation of the subject.

• May come from personal associations as a result of past experiences.

Reference: Adobe Photostock
 References:

• https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/art
• https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/art
• https://www.dictionary.com/browse/art
• https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/art_1?q=art
• https://www.best-poems.net/amy_lowell/index.html
• https://govt.chinadaily.com.cn/s/202004/23/WS5c1750f5498ee2f0291e3ed9/luoyang-museum.html
• https://theculturetrip.com/asia/south-korea/articles/seoul-s-10-best-contemporary-art-galleries-top-independent-venues/
• https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2018/10/07/features/Celebrating-the-fading-art-of-brush-and-ink-The-Seoul-Arts-
Center-looks-to-the-past-and-future-to-revive-Korean-calligraphy/3053952.html
• https://www.slideshare.net/janril/subject-and-content-of-arts
• https://www.pngegg.com/en/png-bucwa/download
• https://www.inkdancechinesepaintings.com/chrysanthemum/painting-2611001.html

BOOKS:
Ariola, M.M. (2018). Art appreciation. Unlimited Books Library Services & Publishing Inc.
Illenberger et al. (2010). Basic art appreciation and the humanities. CPU Printing Press
 References:

• https://www.biography.com/artist/rembrandt
• https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/10159
• https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-dutch-lifes-dark-secrets-hide-exotic-delicacies
• https://www.artranked.com/topic/Acrylic+Animal#&gid=1&pid=2
• https://www.indianartzone.com/acrylic/stick-couple-figures
• https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435877
• https://watercolorpainting.com/watercolor-painting-tutorials/classic-seascape/
• https://www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2014/02/Po-Pin-Lin.html
• https://mymodernmet.com/must-know-paintings/
• https://static.trinityroad.com/sites/gf/2015/09/Da-Vinci_Last-Supper_restored.jpg
• https://www.creativitypost.com/article/salvador_dalis_creative_thinking_technique
• https://fineartamerica.com/featured/you-would-have-been-so-proud-of-her-by-shawna-erback-shawna-erback.html
• https://i.pinimg.com/originals/00/c5/42/00c5420ac3ae2dc1ba3d95a4908a17b3.jpg
• https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/p/portrait
• https://www.artsper.com/us/contemporary-artworks/painting/everyday-life
• https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/s/still-life
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Still_life
• https://www.britannica.com/art/still-life-painting
• https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/f/figurative-art
• https://drawpaintacademy.com/seascape-painting-inspiration/
• https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/dreams-throughout-art/