Lesson

Subject and Content

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At the end of the lesson, you will be able to;

1. Differentiate representational art and non-representational art.
2. Discuss the difference between an artworks subject and
its content.
3. Identify the subject matter and content of specific examples
of art.
Enumerate the source of the subjects of some the most recognizable works of art in the
Philippines Art history.

Learning the Essentials

1. Subject
The world is so interesting. It offers so many views, stories and images.
A painter, a poet, a writer, a choreographer, a film-
maker, a cartoonist, a designer, and some other arts
practitioners will never run out of subject. There are
unlimited subjects that surround us. Every second, every
minute, we see potential concrete and abstract materials
that can be utilized as subject.
Subject in art is generally refers to the thing, object,
person, landscape, events, and etc. depicted by the artist
in his/her artwork. It serve as the window of the artwork.
Through the subject, the audience will be informed of what
the artwork is all about.
Anything under the heat of the sun-from the largest mountain to the
smallest details of anything on earth and even the things that the human eyes
could not see can be magnified and used in art.
Not only concrete objects in the real world but also anything is the realms
of imagination can be used as a subject in art. The river or streams of
consciousness will never run dry. The light may be too fast, the moment may
be so brief but still artists are able to capture them in their very own ways and
styles.
 There may be time that an artist is shut, exhausted and tired; yet this
experience could possibly become the subject itself- depicting exhaustion and
fatigue in the artwork. Hence, experience is a strong drive for artist in
choosing a subject.
An artwork that has a subject is classified
as a representational art. It is also known us
objective art because you can easily objectify
the subject.

On the other hand, it is also known as

non- objective art because it doesn’t
represent anything.

Painting, sculptures, photography, graphic arts, dance, theater, literature

are generally classified as representational arts. Through sometimes paintings
and sculptures do not have subjects, more so with dance, theater and
literature, which so not depict clear subjects/ representations but have
themes, would help the audience clarify their meaning and intentions.
Most artwork have subject except for the architecture and music which
rarely have. Unless an architect will build literally a building that looks like a
“durian fruit” then we can say that an architectural design has a subject.
Basically, music has no subject but the lyrics parallel to the music is the one
that makes the work easily understood. When a classical or instrumental
music is used in a certain firm or theater production, we now associate this
music not on the merits of the composition but the theme of the firm or art
production.
On the other hand, artworks have content which refers to the meaning of
the artwork. The other term of content is the theme which bears the essence
or substance of a thing or an object.

2. KINDS AND SOURCES OF SUBJECT

The kinds of subject enumerated below are explored and prevalent in any
form of art expression, either in visual, auditory, or combined arts. Nature
(landscape, seascape and other part of nature) still life, animals,
portraits/human, figures, bistory and legends, religion and mythology, and
dreams and fantasies.

2.1 NATURE

and even in backyard.

 parts of nature. They include mountains, hills,
plateaus, valleys, islands, etc. it can be
This natural or artificial. A natural landscape is a
subject deals land formation that is never modified and
with the distorted, while it becomes artificial when
physical there is human intervention-when man tends
environment- to alter the natural land formation (with rocks
the natural and plants) through “landscaping” such as
world. that of the hotel entrance, inland resorts,
Landscape are parks,
Cityscapes refers to anything that composes the scene of the city, such
as building, roads, etc. and other not directly part of the nature though
situated in land by human beings to serve their purpose.
On the other hand, seascape include lakes, rivers, ocean, stream,
brook, and other watercourses. Aside from these natural waterscape, there
are also artificial water formations such as dams, man-made lakes and
waterfalls.

2.2 ANIMALS
This is another kind of subject that is commonly
used in any Art forms, not only it is prevalent today but
also during the Medieval period when early Christians
used animals symbols such as peacock and fish to
identify themselves as Christian believers.

2.3 PORTALS OR HUMAN FIGURES

A whole human figure or just a part of it can represent the self. In
using this kind of subject, the angle, the distance, and the
subject or model’s composure are considered. Portraits and
human figures have the same intentions- to capture human
expression. The human body is known as “the measure of all
thing”. It reflects proportions, balance coordination, order, and
unity. In addition, studying human anatomy is considered
though it is tedious and challenging.

2.4 HISTORY AND LEGENDS

This is a kind of subject that is inspired by history or legends.
Historical events are real stories while legends are just imaginary
accounts. Whether history of legends, these stories are used in any art
form to share
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and transmit the values that are attached with them. Myintyre says “telling
of stories has a key part in educating us into the virtues” (1981:201). This
claim was elaborated by Egan which states that “the powerful stories of
the world do not simply describe a range of human qualities” (1992:55).
That similar point was further supported by Benjamin when he stated that
the story is “the ability to share experience” (1969:83)

2.5 STILL LIFE

Still Life refers to in-animating objects
either in a form of a drawing, painting or
photograph. It allows us to tool into the
beauty of a certain object and be able to play
in its presentation. Still life painting or
drawing is one way for studying color,
compositions,
tones, and shadows. The three dimensional approach adheres order and
balance. It is done usually in doors-so light source is controlled. In still life,
it features the ability of the artist to play with the characteristics such as
highlights, middle tones, dark tones, shadow and reflection.

2.6 RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY

Religious and mythological themes are
subject that are practiced by religious and tribal
groups. Religious or mythological art as a kind of
subject is usually done by an insider artist or a
devoted member of a religious group. It not, they are
artisans who followed a traditional practice, beliefs and
customs which are learned from their forefathers and
handed down from generation to generation. Religious
and tribal symbols can be utilized but neither should
be exaggerated nor distorted for aesthetic purposes.

2.7 DREAMS AND

FANTASIES To dream and to imagine are for free.
Dreams and fantasies refer to subject that
are inspired by the subconscious mind as
discovered by Sigmund Freud. Artworks that
are inspired by dreams and fantasies are
called surrealism. Dream and Fantasies
are presented in realistic manner, however,
the imagery is distorted, and the setting
become a dream world. Art had been an
effective tools
to assist the human being to express imagination. It even assist us to
escape from reality.
 Subject in art is as dynamic with culture and imagination. It never
runs out and is never fully exhausted: from the simple concept to the
complex and artistic creation.
However, the challenge for artists is on his/her storytelling and
retelling of a story, of a reality. Hence, the artist subject presentation must
be clear and well-organized in order not to confuse audience.
Clarity of one’s choice of a subject is imperative because the
content of the artwork itself is the soul of each artist creation. Every
subject reveals the conviction of the artist; thus, it also serves as the
extension of what he/she believes in. to carry out effectively this objective
of bringing clarity and precision to one’s subject, personal preferences and
biases of the artist must be taken into account, as well as the artist’s
background and ideological perspective because, consciously or
unconsciously, they could be transmitted and revealed in their artwork.
After all, art itself is storytelling, and at times, conveys powerful and
inspiring stories. And we may never know how work may evoke a sense of
curiosity, wonder, meaning, or inspiration to our readers.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Activity 1 – Creating an Art

Directions: Choose a subject and draw using acrylic color or water color
to the 1/8 sheet of illustration board. Submit the picture of your artwork to
our facebook group.
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Activity 2 – Reflection Paper

Directions: Write the meaning and reflection of your artwork
to your personal life. Submit your work on our google class.