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HMN 101--- ART APPRECIATION

LECTURE HANDOUTS COMPILATION
September 2020
Topic4: Subject and Content of Art
Two Kinds of Art as to Subject
Sources of the Subject Art
The Content of Art
Objectives:

After topic 4, students are expected to:

a. Differentiate content from subject

b. Clarify artworks according to subject or according to content;
c. Analyze how artists present their subjects in relation to the real subject.

Introduction
The subject of art is a dynamic and forceful as man’s way of life, culture and
imagination Subject can be anything under the sun. People are free to choose and
express art in many or anyways. The subject and content of art never comes to an end
and is never fully worn out and exhausted.
Subject and Content of Art
The subject of art is the matter to be described or to be portrayed by the artist.
The subject of art is varied. This may refer to any person, object, scene or event.
In general, the subject of an artwork is anything under the sun. The subject could
be make-believe, imaginary, and invented, like Cerberus (a three-headed dog) or
Dyesebel (a popular mermaid character made for film and television). Subjects can
also be real events, like the devastations brought about by super typhoon entering
the Philippines or catastrophic tsunamis hitting many Asian countries.
Two Kinds of Art as to Subject:
As stated by Panisan, Boongaling et.al (2018) there are two kinds of art as to
subject:
1. Representational or objective Art
They are those art that depict objects that are commonly recognized by
most people. They attempt to copy, even if in a subjective manner, something

Disclaimer
Every reasonable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information used in the creation of this reference material, without
prejudice to the existing copyrights of the authors. As an off-shoot of the innumerable difficulties encountered during these trying
times, the authors endeavored to ensure proper attribution of the esteemed original works, by way of footnotes or bibliography,
to their best abilities and based on available resources, despite the limited access and mobility due to quarantine restrictions
imposed by the duly constituted authorities.
We make no warranties, guarantees or representations concerning the accuracy or suitability of the information contained in the
material or any references and links provided here. Links to the other materials in our CPOD and CAM were made in good faith,
for non-commercial teaching purposes only to the extent justified for the purpose, and consistent with fair use under Sec.185 of
Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
Prepared and Compiled by Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
Copyright Notice
Materials contained in the learning packets have been copied and conveyed to you by or on behalf of Pamantasan ng Cabuyao pursuant to
Section IV – The Copyright Act (RA) 8293 of the Philippines Intellectual Property Code.

You are not allowed by the Pamantasan ng Cabuyao to reproduce or convey these materials. The content may contain works which are
protected by copyright under RA 8293. You may be liable to copyright infringement for any copying and/or distribution of the content and
the copyright owners have the right to take legal action against such infringement.

Do not remove this notice.

HMN 101--- ART APPRECIATION

LECTURE HANDOUTS COMPILATION
September 2020
that is real. They use “form” and are concerned with “what” is to be depicted in
the artwork.
They attempt to portray the subject as it is. The artists would try to be as
objective as possible.
Examples
a. Still life is a work of art depicting mostly imitate subject matter, typically
commonplace objects, which may be either natural (food, flowers, plants,
rocks or shells) or man-made (drinking glasses. Books, vases, jewelry,
coins, pipes and so on) in an artificial setting.
b. Portrait is a painting, photograph, figure, or any other art forms in which the
face and its expression is predominant. The purpose may be to show the
resemblance, personality, or disposition of the individual.
c. Landscapes, Seascapes, Moonscapes, Cityscapes
d. Mythology and Religion, Dreams and Fantasies.
2. Nonrepresentational or Nonobjective Art
They are those art without any reference to anything outside itself
(without representation). This kind of art is nonobjective because it has
nonrecognizable objects. It is abstract in the sense that it does not represent
objects in our world. It uses “content” and is concerned with “how” the artwork
is depicted.

Sources of the Subject Art

1. Nature--- Next to animals and people and their activities, nature as landscapes
has been the common subject of the arts. It has been the most inspiration and
subject.
2. History—All art is conditioned by the historical period in which it is created.
Rulers like to have themselves and the great deeds of their time perpetuated,
consequently, statues and painting of the great are found in each civilization.

Disclaimer
Every reasonable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information used in the creation of this reference material, without
prejudice to the existing copyrights of the authors. As an off-shoot of the innumerable difficulties encountered during these trying
times, the authors endeavored to ensure proper attribution of the esteemed original works, by way of footnotes or bibliography,
to their best abilities and based on available resources, despite the limited access and mobility due to quarantine restrictions
imposed by the duly constituted authorities.
We make no warranties, guarantees or representations concerning the accuracy or suitability of the information contained in the
material or any references and links provided here. Links to the other materials in our CPOD and CAM were made in good faith,
for non-commercial teaching purposes only to the extent justified for the purpose, and consistent with fair use under Sec.185 of
Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
Prepared and Compiled by Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
Copyright Notice
Materials contained in the learning packets have been copied and conveyed to you by or on behalf of Pamantasan ng Cabuyao pursuant to
Section IV – The Copyright Act (RA) 8293 of the Philippines Intellectual Property Code.

You are not allowed by the Pamantasan ng Cabuyao to reproduce or convey these materials. The content may contain works which are
protected by copyright under RA 8293. You may be liable to copyright infringement for any copying and/or distribution of the content and
the copyright owners have the right to take legal action against such infringement.

Do not remove this notice.

HMN 101--- ART APPRECIATION

LECTURE HANDOUTS COMPILATION
September 2020
3. Greek and Roman Mythology--- This has been a very important source of
subjects in the arts. These arts are so famous that they count as a definite part
of our inheritance. During the Renaissance period, poets painters, and
sculptors drew largely from Greeks and Roman sources for subjects.
4. Religion—It has played an enormous role in inspiring works of visual arts,
music, architecture and literature through the ages. It was during the
Renaissance that the European artisans become “artists” and conscious of their
role in a way that had never been true before.
5. Sacred oriental texts—sacred texts of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism,
Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism and Islam.

The Content of Art

The content of art is the meaning, message and/or feeling imparted by work of
art. This is not the same thing as the subject matter the work depicts. CONTENT
is inextricably linked with FORM, which refers to the pictorial aspects of art. It is 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.
The content of the work is what the image means. This may be far more
complicated than the subject matter. The content of Rene Magritte’s painting invites
use to think critically about all the representations that we see all around us in daily
life.
For someone to better understand the content of art, there are three levels of
meaning. The most common is the factual meaning, the literal statement or narrative
content in the work that can be directly apprehend because the objects presented are
Disclaimer
Every reasonable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information used in the creation of this reference material, without
prejudice to the existing copyrights of the authors. As an off-shoot of the innumerable difficulties encountered during these trying
times, the authors endeavored to ensure proper attribution of the esteemed original works, by way of footnotes or bibliography,
to their best abilities and based on available resources, despite the limited access and mobility due to quarantine restrictions
imposed by the duly constituted authorities.
We make no warranties, guarantees or representations concerning the accuracy or suitability of the information contained in the
material or any references and links provided here. Links to the other materials in our CPOD and CAM were made in good faith,
for non-commercial teaching purposes only to the extent justified for the purpose, and consistent with fair use under Sec.185 of
Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
Prepared and Compiled by Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
Copyright Notice
Materials contained in the learning packets have been copied and conveyed to you by or on behalf of Pamantasan ng Cabuyao pursuant to
Section IV – The Copyright Act (RA) 8293 of the Philippines Intellectual Property Code.

You are not allowed by the Pamantasan ng Cabuyao to reproduce or convey these materials. The content may contain works which are
protected by copyright under RA 8293. You may be liable to copyright infringement for any copying and/or distribution of the content and
the copyright owners have the right to take legal action against such infringement.

Do not remove this notice.

HMN 101--- ART APPRECIATION

LECTURE HANDOUTS COMPILATION
September 2020
easily recognized. The most rudimentary level of meaning for it may be extracted from
the identifiable or recognizable forms in the artwork and understanding how these
elements relate to one another.
The second is conventional meaning, which refers to the special meaning of
the certain object or color has for a particular culture or group of people when it is
shown in an artwork. Pertains to 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 recurrent use and wide
acceptance by its viewers or audience and scholars who study them.
The third is the subjective meaning, which refers to 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
experience. When subjectivities are consulted, a variety of meanings may arise when
a particular work of art is read. These meanings stem from the viewer’s or audience’s
circumstances that come into play when engaging with art (what we know, what we
learned, what we experienced; what values we stand for) Meaning may not be
singular, rather, multiple and varied.
Keeping Art
A country, society and individual may hold on to an artwork often beyond
its usefulness, which may involve various consideration, including its meaning and its
economic value. Public and private institutions like museums and galleries are also
designed for keeping art, and issues around preserving art, or restoring it.
1. National Pride and Glory
2. Museums and Private Collections
3. Preservation and Restoration. {5} Panisan, Boongaling et.al. (2018)

Mediums
According to Narsaria (2020), an artistic medium refers to the type of material used
to create(20a work of art, be it paintings, sculptures and everything in between. When
you visit art museums, you will likely encounter paintings with a small display card
stating the title of the painting, the artist’s name and the medium used to make that
painting or sculpture. The term ‘medium’ was first used specifically in the context of art
Disclaimer
Every reasonable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information used in the creation of this reference material, without
prejudice to the existing copyrights of the authors. As an off-shoot of the innumerable difficulties encountered during these trying
times, the authors endeavored to ensure proper attribution of the esteemed original works, by way of footnotes or bibliography,
to their best abilities and based on available resources, despite the limited access and mobility due to quarantine restrictions
imposed by the duly constituted authorities.
We make no warranties, guarantees or representations concerning the accuracy or suitability of the information contained in the
material or any references and links provided here. Links to the other materials in our CPOD and CAM were made in good faith,
for non-commercial teaching purposes only to the extent justified for the purpose, and consistent with fair use under Sec.185 of
Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
Prepared and Compiled by Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
Copyright Notice
Materials contained in the learning packets have been copied and conveyed to you by or on behalf of Pamantasan ng Cabuyao pursuant to
Section IV – The Copyright Act (RA) 8293 of the Philippines Intellectual Property Code.

You are not allowed by the Pamantasan ng Cabuyao to reproduce or convey these materials. The content may contain works which are
protected by copyright under RA 8293. You may be liable to copyright infringement for any copying and/or distribution of the content and
the copyright owners have the right to take legal action against such infringement.

Do not remove this notice.

HMN 101--- ART APPRECIATION

LECTURE HANDOUTS COMPILATION
September 2020
90 years after Lessing mentioned it in an essay in 1861. Earlier, art was described in
terms of the substance mixed with each pigment to make paint. Now, the term
“medium” is used to convey what material art is made of.
1. Oil paints
When you think of oil painting, a painting known by almost everyone on the planet
is the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci. Oil painting is one of the oldest mediums still
regularly used in art. It was also used by countless other famous artists, from Picasso
to Botticelli. As the name suggests, these paints are oil-based and mixed with
turpentine or linseed oil. Oil paintings take a lot of time to dry, since they’re not oil-
based, so only start with this medium if you’re a patient person! The value of the
paintings is based on the age of the paintings and how old it is. Oil paintings age like
wine—the older, the better!

2. Watercolors
Watercolors are difficult to work around, as once the paint is on paper, there is very
little you can do to change it. However, once you master it, there are several
advantages. Watercolors are comparatively inexpensive. One tube of color goes a
long way, since the paint is mixed with a lot of water to create its signature effect.
Watercolor paintings are generally translucent, meaning that you can see the texture
of the paper that lies beneath. Watercolor allows light to bounce off the paper and give
the color its effect rather than bouncing off the paint. This gives such paintings a
mesmerizing clarity. Watercolors are generally used to paint landscapes, abstract
pieces or other subtle subjects that don’t require too much precision. Some watercolor
techniques include wet on wet, color lifting and flat washes.

3. Acrylic Paint
This is the newest medium used in art and was only developed in 1940. Compared
to watercolors and oil paints, acrylics have a lot of advantages. It dries very fast, unlike
oil paints. It is also very versatile and durable. Additionally, it creates less mess and
can simply be scraped off if you spill it on the floor; it can be peeled off the hand like
glue! Pop artists like Andy Warhol used this medium, even in his legendary creation
of the ‘Campbell Soup Can’.

Disclaimer
Every reasonable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information used in the creation of this reference material, without
prejudice to the existing copyrights of the authors. As an off-shoot of the innumerable difficulties encountered during these trying
times, the authors endeavored to ensure proper attribution of the esteemed original works, by way of footnotes or bibliography,
to their best abilities and based on available resources, despite the limited access and mobility due to quarantine restrictions
imposed by the duly constituted authorities.
We make no warranties, guarantees or representations concerning the accuracy or suitability of the information contained in the
material or any references and links provided here. Links to the other materials in our CPOD and CAM were made in good faith,
for non-commercial teaching purposes only to the extent justified for the purpose, and consistent with fair use under Sec.185 of
Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
Prepared and Compiled by Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
Copyright Notice
Materials contained in the learning packets have been copied and conveyed to you by or on behalf of Pamantasan ng Cabuyao pursuant to
Section IV – The Copyright Act (RA) 8293 of the Philippines Intellectual Property Code.

You are not allowed by the Pamantasan ng Cabuyao to reproduce or convey these materials. The content may contain works which are
protected by copyright under RA 8293. You may be liable to copyright infringement for any copying and/or distribution of the content and
the copyright owners have the right to take legal action against such infringement.

Do not remove this notice.

HMN 101--- ART APPRECIATION

LECTURE HANDOUTS COMPILATION
September 2020
4. Graphite Pencil

If you’ve seen Titanic, then you know what scene that quote comes from. Jack
used graphite pencils to sketch Rose in that legendary blockbuster. These pencils are
similar to normal pencils, but they come in different intensity levels. The ‘h’s are the
lightest, whereas the pencils marked ‘b’s like 4b or 6b are the darkest. Graphite pencils
are also used by children, as they are the easiest type of pencil and less messy to use
than paints. Mastery of this medium requires sketching, shading and blending.

5. Charcoal
Similar to graphite pencils are charcoals. Charcoal is darker in shade, cannot be
erased easily, and requires more hand control. Charcoal comes in two types—soft
charcoal for blending and hard charcoal for sketching. Charcoal is used for drawing
figures and quick sketches.
6. Pastels
Pastels come in two forms—oil pastels, which are generally used by children for
coloring, and chalk pastels, which are similar to charcoal, but they come in all colors.
Pastels are ideal for blending and layering. The tip, cut and side can all be used to
create various textures.

As we all know, beauty comes in all sizes, and since art is a form of beauty, it
is no wonder that it comes in various mediums. There is no perfect medium for a
particular type of painting, it depends on what an artist is comfortable with, what you
like, your budget and availability. And most importantly, don’t forget that the beauty of
art lies in the eyes of the beholder! [8]

References
[5] Panisan, Wilson K., Boongaling,Corie Chuza G. etal(2018) ; Art Appreciation;
Mutya publishing House Inc; Malabon City
[8] Narsaria, A. (2020, May 3). What Are The Different Mediums Used In
Art? Retrieved from https://www.scienceabc.com/humans/different-mediums-used-
art.html

Disclaimer
Every reasonable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information used in the creation of this reference material, without
prejudice to the existing copyrights of the authors. As an off-shoot of the innumerable difficulties encountered during these trying
times, the authors endeavored to ensure proper attribution of the esteemed original works, by way of footnotes or bibliography,
to their best abilities and based on available resources, despite the limited access and mobility due to quarantine restrictions
imposed by the duly constituted authorities.
We make no warranties, guarantees or representations concerning the accuracy or suitability of the information contained in the
material or any references and links provided here. Links to the other materials in our CPOD and CAM were made in good faith,
for non-commercial teaching purposes only to the extent justified for the purpose, and consistent with fair use under Sec.185 of
Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
Prepared and Compiled by Pamantasan ng Cabuyao