The document discusses different sources and ways of presenting the subject in art. The sources of subjects in art can include landscapes, still lifes, portraits, figures, everyday life, history/legends, religion/mythology, and dreams/fantasy. Ways of presenting the subject include realism, abstraction, symbolism, fauvism, dadaism, futurism, and surrealism. The content of art refers to the meaning, message, and/or feeling conveyed through the artwork's imagery, symbols, context, and culture. Content can have a factual, conventional, or subjective meaning.

1. Sources of
Subject of Art
By : Don Mark M. Basa
BSIT - 1A
ART APPRECIATION
(GE6)

2. Sources of Subject of Art

3. The subject of Art may be:
1. Landscape, seascapes, cityscapes
2. Still life – inanimate objects arranged in an indoor setting.
3. Animals
4. Portraits – the realistic likeness of a person.
• Attire, accessories are very much expressive because they reveal so much of the person
and his time.
5. Figures – nude/ clothed
• Greeks – physical beauty was the symbol of moral and spiritual perfection.
6. Everyday Life – life around the artist, or the actual setting.
E.g., children playing, life at the park
7. History and Legends
• History – consist of verifiable facts
• Legends – unverifiable but they have been accepted as true
8. Religion and Mythology – use to preach and teach
• Art – handmaid of religion
9. Dreams and Fantasy – mostly used by surrealist painters

4. Ways of Presenting the
Subject

5. 01 Realism
This often refers to the artistic movement that began in
France in the 1850s. Realism's popularity increased with the
advent of the photography-a new visual medium that
generated people's desire to develop "objectively real"
things. This describes what the eyes can see, what the ear
can hear, and what faculty of sense can receive. The
painting by Zeuxis, painter of the 5th century, was an
example. Grapes was his subject. They appeared so
perfect, luscious, and appealing when he displayed his
painting of grapes that the birds flew down from the sky to
peck at them.

6. 02 Abstraction
Its etymology derives from the Latin "abstractus" put
forward, "or from the Latin past participle" abstrahere:
"from ab(s)-" down "+ trahere" take, "meaning" removed
or isolated from material objects or practical matters.
Through abstract art, the artist presents the subject in no
way as an objective fact, but just his idea or his feeling
(exaggerated emotionalism) about it. It's all about what
the artists are thinking and what mood they may want to
reflect. All types of visual art, no real-life pictures,
scenery, or objects.

7. 03 Symbolism
A symbol is a clear indication that anything like an idea or
a standard is invisible. Symbolism uses symbols to
systematically focus or amplify meaning, rendering the
artwork more subjective (rather than objective) and
traditional. For instance, a flag is a country symbol, and it
represents the essence of nationalism, a lion representing
bravery, and a lamb representing meekness.

8. 04 Fauvism
It is derived from the French "Les Fauves," which means
"the wild beasts." It is the last part of the 19thcentury
artistic movement that stressed spontaneity and the use
of excessively bright colors. For example, to a fauvist, a
tree trunk doesn't need to be gray. It may be bright red,
purple, or any other color.

9. 05 Dadaism
The word "dada" is a French word that means “hobby-
horse.” A hobby-horse is the children's pet toy made of a
wooden horse mounted on a stick. We may claim it with
this etymology dadaism is a "nonsensical" art movement.
Some would say it is not art since it appears to have
absolutely no sense.

10. 06 Dadaism
Futurism was described as a modernist movement
embracing the future age of technology. The automobile,
the aircraft, the industrial town reflected the development
of urban life and the technological success of A Man
beyond Nature.
“Dynamism of a Cyclist” by Umberto
Bo ccioni. 1913.

11. 07 Surrealism
It is an offshoot or a dada boy. Sometimes known as
"super" realism, "which revolves around the process of
making things look ordinary exceptional. It focuses on
actual objects found in imagination or fantasy, or it has
realistic subjects found in the sub consciousness,
illustrating the inner mind's dreamlike images.

12. 08 Impressionism
It's also often called optical realism because of its interest
in the actual visual experience, including things such as
the influence of Color, light, and motion on the nature of
the objects portrayed in the works of art. Impressionism
centered on explaining the visual stimuli are originating
from nature directly.

13. It is the meaning, message, and/or feeling imparted by a work of art.
It is the mass of ideas associated with each artwork and communicated
through the following:
-The Arts’ imagery
-The symbolic meaning
-Its surroundings where it is used or displayed
-The customs, beliefs, and values of the culture that uses it
-Writings that help explain the work
The Content of Art

14. A Factual Meaning
literal statement or the narrative
content in the work which can be
directly understood because the
objects presented are easily
recognized.
Conventional Meaning
special meaning that a certain
object or Color has for a particular
culture or a group of people.
Subjective Meaning
any personal meaning consciously
or unconsciously conveyed by the
artist using private symbolism,
which stems from his own
associations of certain objects,
actions, or colors from past
experiences.
Three levels of meaning, according to
Cleaver (1966):

15. Thank you!