Lesson 1

(Art History and Art Appreciation and Assumption of Art)

IMPORTANCE OF ART

The term art encompasses a large variety of works, from paintings to sculptures, architecture to design, and in modern
times, digital art. Everyone can appreciate and marvel at art, and being subjective in nature, different art forms appeal to
different people. Art appreciation, however, refers to the exploration and analysis of the art forms that we are exposed to.
It can be highly subjective, depending on an individual’s personal tastes and preferences, or can be done on the basis of
several grounds such as elements of design and mastery displayed in the piece. Art appreciation also involves a deeper look
into the setting and historical implication and background of the piece, a study of its origins.

Art education is often underestimated by many who believe that school was created to teach only analytical concepts such
as mathematics and literature. However, research shows that art courses are important even necessary for students in
elementary, middle and high schools.

Whatever your age or career knowledge of arts can have tremendous benefits for you.

As Barbara Streisand said “Art does not exist only to entertain, but also to challenge one to think, to provoke, even to disturb
in a constant search for the truth”. What is the role of the arts in molding a person? The question assumes great
significance today in the backdrop of a culture; especially in Pakistan where arts is seen as unimportant, perhaps even
waste of time, as compared to ‘strategic” subjects.

Obviously it is impossible to separate art or the arts from life they are part of it. For some people, art is the entire reason
they get out of bed in the morning. You could say "Art is something that makes us more thoughtful and well-rounded
humans." Art stimulates different parts of our brains to make us laugh. Art gives us a way to be creative and express
ourselves. The idea can also be expressed by saying that when life declines and the standards of living deteriorate, art also
declines. On the other hand, when life marks upward swing, such a swing inevitably gets reflected in the arts.

The art is indescribable to define and difficult to gather into a conceptual net, but we would probably agree that the art
enhance daily experience. These days, art plays a vital part in developing the intellect of the younger generation to build up
a positive character and appreciate natural aesthetics. The artistic awareness is above any methodologies or approaches. In
general, there is no debating the belief the arts

have never been more important to our society and should be fully integrated into our lives, our community and education
as a whole.
Art is something we do. Art is an expression of our thoughts, emotions, intuitions and desires but it is even more personal
than that: it’s about sharing the way we experience the world. It is the communication of intimate concepts that cannot be
faithfully portrayed by words alone. What is art? Art is an expression and application of one’s creativity, typically in the form
of something visual. The definition of art is in the eyes of the beholder. Many dig far too deep into the ambiguity of the
definition of art itself that they forget to appreciate the significance of art in their lives.

Art is a way of grasping the world. Not merely the physical world, which is what science attempts to do; but the whole
world and specifically the human world of society and spiritual experience.

It is important to foster art appreciation and analysis, as it helps us value the art in how it appeals to us and what it means
to each person. It delves into the history and the story behind the art, as well as a look into the lives of the artists. It
enables one to critically analyze a work, along lines of design, mastery and techniques. Most importantly, however, art
appreciation stimulates though and analysis provokes an individual to look past what meets the eye and open our mind to
the views of others.

MEANING OF ART

The word “art” is rooted in the 13th century French word art, which means SKILLS as a result of learning or practice, and
the Latin word “ars”, meaning ability or practical skills. The word art covers many meaning including ABILITY, PROCESS, and
PRODUCT. As ABILITY, art is the Human Capability to make things of beauty and things that stir us; it is creativity. As
PROCESS, art encompasses acts, such as drawing, painting, sculpting, designing buildings, singing, dancing, and using the
camera to create images or memorable works. As PRODUCT, art is the completed work— an etching, a sculpture, a
structure, a musical composition, choreography, or a tapestry.

ART HISTORY

Art history spans the entire history of humankind, from prehistoric times to the twenty-first century. Art history is the study
of object or works of art in their historical development and stylistic context, genre, design, format, style et al. This includes
the “major” arts of painting, sculptures, and architecture, as well as the “minor” arts of ceramics, furniture, an any other
decorative objects. It is in the study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contents, format, and
design that we may able to understand the purpose of the work of art and appreciate it.

Art History is the study of human expression – visual, but also tactile, spatial and sometimes aural

– through history. Art Historians develop ways to translate from the visual to the verbal, through analysis and
interpretation, using a number of different approaches and methodologies. Art Historians develop a special sensitivity and
understanding of the way visual, material, and – in contemporary art sometimes immaterial – expression makes meaning in
the world, and how those meanings contribute to our social, political, and spiritual life. Architectural historians look at
buildings and their environment, the role the designed environment plays in society, and the relationship between people
and spaces.

It is the study of humanities where appreciation of art is given emphasis. Artists convey their thoughts, beliefs, values,
feelings, and relations through the various fields of art, which can be visual, popular, literary, gustatory, decorative and
performing. Art history doesn’t consist in simply listing all the art movements and placing them on a timeline. It is the study
of objects of art considered within their time period. Art historians analyze visual arts’ meaning (painting, sculpture,
architecture) at the time they were created. Also, another of art history’s mission is to establishes authorial origins of
artworks, i.e. discovering who created a particular artwork, when, when and for what reason.

Artworks are valuable source of inspiration, and esthetic, and delightful experiences. We can be mesmerized by a dance we
watch, delighted by the books we read, and moved by the music we hear. We also get satisfaction from them, we may
enjoy a masterpiece of a painting, a sculpture, or a play because it may capture our attention.

Creativity is an artist trait developed in the course of one’s life to solve problems or express his feeling. His continuing
reaction to emerging conditions of nature and social life gives birth to new idea and new methods. The method of
creativeness is composed of the artist, being the prime mover, his thoughts, communicated through the performer, and the
audience as his judge. Each participates dynamically in the artistic process

Art appreciation is extremely relevant for multiple reasons. It is a good way to understand the history behind the work, and
the period from which the piece originated. Artists often reflect the problems that they face, and the issues of the society
in their work. By analyzing and putting ourselves in the mind of the artist, we can better study how differently society
functioned then, compared to now. We can empathize and relate to the problems they faced on a personal level.

Art appreciation in the humanities is being able to look at a work of art and form a wise opinion of the work. It is also
having the knowledge, background and understanding of the universal and timeless qualities that comprise all works of art.
Art appreciation, therefore, deals with the learning or understanding and creating artworks and enjoying them

ASSUMPTION OF ART

There are principles and bases of appreciating a work of art since it is in art that man can communicate one’s individuality
and way of life.

ART IS UNIVERSAL
Art is EVERYWHERE; wherever men have lived together, art has sprung up among them as a language charged with feelings
and significance. Art has no limit, and it rises above cultures, races, and civilization. It timeless because it goes beyond the
time of our own existence. Art is an universal phenomenon and is as old as human being. Every society has its own art,
which is encouraged and molded by the patronage it gets from its members. Artists as members of society create such
works of art in accordance with the existing relations in the society. Every work of art is an amalgamation of various ideas
circulating in the society. Political, economic and social changes are directly reflected in these cultural aspects which are not
often deliberate but become a part of the activity. The veracity of the argument could be seen in the emergence of various
art trends historically synchronizing with new developments and changes in the society. The relation between art and
society has been closely intertwined and every work of art can be seen as an outcome of several sociological factors.

ART IS NOT NATURE

Art is man-made; it is a creation of man utilizing his thoughtful skill and artistry, which undergoes process and planning. It is
a representation of ideas, thoughts and feelings that are communicated in creative and artistic ways. Art can never be
natural because it is momentary in the constant transformation of change; it does not change by itself unless manipulated
by its creator, which is man.

Sustainable art seeks to make us think more deeply about the impact that our lifestyle choices have on the planet. Artists
for conversation is a group of artists who, in various ways, support nature through their artwork. They paint nature in art in
the form of beautiful and idyllic images of animals and landscapes.

Setting us apart from the animals, humans learned and perceived logic and pattern in our everyday lives. And art is not an
exception. Art that is composed of patterns and aesthetics. From man’s experiences, we cannot even compare Art with
Nature because it is something mysterious, and it is made by the Divine Province who depth and mystery is beyond human
understanding.

ART INVOLVES EXPERIENCE

Art is depiction of our experiences. It demands taking part. Every art does something with some Physical materials, the
body or something outside the body; thus, the only way to find conviction and assertion is through immersion in the Arts.
We can only appreciate art if we spend time to look at it, listen to it, touch it, and feel its presence.

Art may not be limited in age or talent but for someone to produce a masterpiece that can be recognized by anyone and
everyone that certain someone needs to acquire experiences.

Experiences that will enable him or her to be productive, to execute what he or she is imagining in perfect figure as he did
thought.
Other than the creativity and imagination capabilities of an individual, in order for you to actually maximize your talent and
skill and with the thought of sharing it with others Experience is important. Art is about the creativity of a person, his or her
ability to create something beautiful a masterpiece that is also known within the areas of art. Fully expressing yourself by
also using your limits as an advantage to create art.

Art can be many things small or big, colorful or not as long as it conveys something or it can be used as a tool to express
human emotions and be shared with the other people then it is Art whatever the others say.

VISUAL ARTS

Visual Arts: unique expressions of ideas, beliefs, experiences, and feelings presented in well- designed visual forms. Visual
arts are forms of art that you can see, such as drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and filmmaking.
Design and working with textiles are also often referred to as visual art. Visual arts have changed over the centuries. During
the Middle Ages artists created paintings, sculptures or prints and became famous. Today visual arts apply to many
different forms.

The visual arts are those creations that we can see rather than something like the auditory arts, which we hear. These art
forms are extremely diverse, from the artwork that hangs on your wall to the movie you watched last night.

What Types of Art Are Visual Arts?

The visual arts include mediums such as drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, film, and printmaking.
Many of these pieces of art are created to stimulate us through a visual experience. When we look at them, they often
provoke a feeling of some sort.

Within the visual arts is a category known as the decorative arts, or craft. This is art that is more utilitarian and has a
function but retains an artistic style and still requires talent to create. The decorative arts include ceramics, furniture
making, textiles, interior design, jewelry making, metal crafting, and woodworking.

What Makes Art 'Fine'?

Within the world of the visual arts, people still make distinctions between "fine" art and everything else. It really does get
confusing, and it can change, depending on who you're speaking with. For instance, painting and sculpture are almost
automatically classified as fine arts. The decorative arts, which are at times exhibit a finer nature and craftsmanship than
some fine arts, are not called "fine."
 Additionally, visual artists sometimes refer to themselves (or are referred to by others) as fine artists, as opposed to
commercial artists. However, some commercial art is really wonderful—even "fine," some would say. Because an artist
needs to sell art in order to remain a working artist, a strong argument could be made that most art is commercial. Instead,
the category of commercial art is typically reserved for art created to sell something else, such as for an advertisement.

This is exactly the kind of wording that puts many people off of art. It would really simplify matters if we could all just stick
with visual, auditory, performance, or literary when we speak of the arts and eliminate fine altogether, but that's now how
the art world sees it.

CATEGORIES/ CLASSIFIACTIONS OF ART VISUAL ARTS

(2D, 3D)

Painting – it is the application of pigment (color) on any flat two-dimensional surfaces.

Sculpture – it is the carving modelling, casting, constructing and assembling of materials and objects into primarily three-
dimensional works of art.

Architecture – it is the art and science of planning, designing, and constructing buildings and non-building structures for
human shelter or use (3D)

PERFORMING/ COMBINED ARTS

Music – is an art form and cultural activity whose medium is sound organized in time.

Dance – is the movement of the body in a rhythmic way, usually to music and within a given space for the purpose of
expressing an idea or emotions.

Film – also called movie or motion picture, is a series of still images that when shown on a screen creates an illusion of
moving images.

Theater – is a collaborative form of art that uses live performers, typically actors or actresses, to present the experience of a
real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often stage,

Literary – is concentrating the writing, study or content of literature, especially of the kind valued for quality of form.

6.Performance Poetry – is poetry specifically composed for or during a performance before an audience rather than on
print mostly open to improvisation

DIGITAL ARTS

It is the art that is made with the assistance of electronic devices, or intended to be displayed on a computer, which is the
most important elements in digital art

APPLED ARTS

The application of design and decoration to everyday objects to make them aesthetically pleasing.

1.Fashion design – is the art of applying design, aesthetics, and natural beauty to clothing and its accessories.
2.Furniture design – is a specialized field where function and fashion collide

3.Interior design – is enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing
environment for the people using the space.

4.Graphic design – it is an artistic process of effective communication. Designers combine words, images, and symbols to
create a visual representation of ideas

Art is meant to stimulate thought and conversation between its viewers. By reflecting on a piece of art, we delve into our
own experiences and nostalgia, thus a piece of art means something different to every person that comes across it. Art
helps open up the mindset of the people, by listening to different perspective is and views as well as interpretations of the
art, it encourages thoughtful conversation and the understanding that there is more than one approach to everything.

For many people, art is meant to express something that we ourselves feel unable to express or convey. Through its visual
medium it evokes feelings of joy, sadness, anger and pain. That is why art appreciation is so important in bringing that one
final element to complete the work, and that is our interpretation. Our perspective brings the artwork to life as it changes
for every person around it.

CHAPTER II

THE LIFE OF ART

(Function of Art and Philosophical Import of Art)

The Greek philosopher Aristotle claimed that every particular substance in the world has an end, telos in Greek, which
translates to “purpose”. Every substance, defined as a formed matter, moves according to a fixed path towards its aim. A
seed is bound to become a full-grown plant. Like a cocoon can look forward to flying high when it morphs into butterfly.

The telos and function of a thing are both related to a thing’s identity. What makes a table, a table is the fact that it does
perform its function and thereby, reach its telos. In contemporary life, the connect between the end, the function and the
“whatness” of a thing have become closer and more interlaced, suggesting sometimes that the end is the function and vice
versa, and that they determine what kind of thing a thing. Does art necessarily have an end? When an artist creates a work
of art, does she have an end in mind? What function does an artwork perform? Does it have any purpose? In this chapter
will discuss the function of art and the philosophical import of art. this chapter will discuss the function of art and the
philosophical import of art.

FUNCTION OF ARTS
Within art, there exist purposes referred to as functions for which a piece of art may be designed, but no art can be
"assigned" a function—either in scholarly studies or casual conversation—outside of the proper context. Art forms exist
within very specific contexts that must be considered when classifying them. Whether a particular piece of art has existed
for centuries or has yet to be created, it is functional in some way—all art exists for a reason and these reasons make up
the functions of art.

Ideally, one can look at a piece of art and guess with some accuracy where it came from and when. This best-case scenario
also includes identifying the artist because they are in no small way part of the contextual equation. You might wonder,
"What was the artist thinking when they created this?" when you see a piece of art. You, the viewer, are the other half of
this equation; you might ask yourself how that same piece of art makes you feel as you look at it.

These—in addition to the time period, location of creation, cultural influences, etc.—are all factors that should be
considered before trying to assign functions to art. Taking anything out of context can lead to misunderstanding art and
misinterpreting an artist's intentions, which is never something you want to art exists for a reason and these reasons make
up the functions of art.

The functions of art normally fall into three categories: physical, social, and personal. These categories can and often do
overlap in any given piece of art. When you're ready to start thinking about these functions, here's how

PHYSICAL

The physical functions of art are often the easiest to understand. Works of art that are created to perform some service
have physical functions. If you see a Fijian war club, you may assume that, however wonderful the craftsmanship may be, it
was created to perform the physical function of smashing skulls.

A Japanese raku bowl is a piece of art that performs a physical function in a tea ceremony.

Conversely, a fur-covered teacup from the Dada movement has no physical function. Architecture, crafts such as welding
and woodworking, interior design, and industrial design are all types of art that serve physical functions

SOCIAL

Art is used for public display and celebration; it is used to affect collective behavior. It bridges connection among people.
Art conveys sense of family, community, or civilization. Art has a social function when it addresses aspects of (collective) life
as opposed to one person's point of view or experience. Viewers can often relate in some way to social art and are
sometimes even influenced by it.

For example, public art in 1930s Germany had an overwhelming symbolic theme. Did this art exert influence on the
German population? Decidedly so, as did political and patriotic posters in Allied countries during the same time. Political
art, often designed to deliver a certain message, always carries a social function. The fur-covered Dada teacup, useless for
holding tea, carried a social function in that it protested World War I (and nearly everything else in life).
Art that depicts social conditions performs social functions and often this art comes in the form of photography. The
Realists figured this out early in the 19th century. American photographer Dorothea Lange (1895–1965) along with many
others often took pictures of people in conditions that are difficult to see and think about.

Additionally, satire performs social functions. Spanish painter Francisco Goya (1746–1828) and English portrait artist
William Hogarth (1697–1764) both went this route with varying degrees of success at motivating social change with their
art. Sometimes the possession of specific pieces of art in a community can elevate that community's status. A stabile by
American kinetic artist Alexander Calder (1898–1976), for example, can be a community treasure and point of pride.

PERSONAL

It is being used to provide comfort, happiness, and convenience to human being. The artist tries to express his personal
feelings through the artwork. The personal functions of art are often the most difficult to explain. There are many types of
personal functions and these are highly subjective. Personal functions of art are not likely to be the same from person to
person

An artist may create a piece out of a need for self-expression or gratification. They might also or instead want to
communicate a thought or point to the viewer. Sometimes an artist is only trying to provide an aesthetic experience, both
for self and viewers. A piece might be meant to entertain, provoke thought, or even have no particular effect at all.

Personal function is vague for a reason. From artist to artist and viewer to viewer, one's experience with art is different.
Knowing the background and behaviors of an artist helps when interpreting the personal function of their pieces. The
personal functions of art are varied and highly subjective. This means that it depends on the person –the artist who created
the art.

Art may also serve the personal function of controlling its viewers, much like social art. It can also perform religious service
or acknowledgment. Art has been used to attempt to exert magical control, change the seasons, and even acquire food.
Some art brings order and peace, some creates chaos. There is virtually no limit to how art can be used.

Finally, sometimes art is used to maintain a species. This can be seen in rituals of the animal kingdom and in humans
themselves. Biological functions obviously include fertility symbols (in any culture), but there are many ways humans adorn
their bodies with art in order to be attractive to others and eventually mate.

AESTHETIC FUNCTION
Art become influential for man to be aware of the beauty of nature. Aesthetic is when there are the real feelings of
appreciation to nature’s beauty and manifested through appreciation and enjoyment when in contact with the artwork.

SPIRITUAL FUNCTION

Art become influential for man to be aware of the beauty of nature. Aesthetic is when there are the real feelings of
appreciation to nature’s beauty and manifested through appreciation and enjoyment when in contact with the artwork. To
express spiritual beliefs about the destiny of life controlled by the force of a higher power.

CULTURAL FUNCTION

Art helps preserve, share and transmit culture of people from one generation to another.

TWO TYPES OF CULTURAL FUNTION

FLORICULTURE – preserving of the art

POMICULTURE – continues of creation

The functions of art apply not only to the artist that created a piece but to you as the viewer. Your whole experience and
understanding of a piece should contribute to the function you assign it, as well as everything you know about its context.

PHILOSOPHICAL IMPORT OF ARTS ART AS MIMESIS (PLATO)

In Plato’s The Republic, paints a picture of artists as imitators and art as mere imitation. In his description of the ideal
republic, Plato advises against the inclusion of art as a subject in the curriculum and the banning of artists in the Republic.
In Plato’s metaphysics or view of reality, the things in this world are only copies of the original, the eternal, and the true
entities that can only be found in the World of Forms.

For example, the chair that one sits on is not a real chair. It is an imperfect copy of the perfect “chair” in the World of
Forms. Plato was convinced that artists merely reinforce the belief in copies and discourage men to reach for the real
entities in the World of Forms.

Plato was deeply suspicious of arts and artists for two reasons:

They appeal to the emotion rather to the rational faculty of men

Poetry rouses emotions and feelings and thus, clouds rationality of people. Art is just an imitation of imitation. A painting is
just an imitation of nature, which is also just an imitation of reality in the World of Forms. Art then is to be banished,
alongside the practitioners, so that the attitudes and actions of the members of the Republic will not be corrupted by the
influence of the arts. For Plato, art is dangerous because it provides a petty replacement for the real entities than can only
be attained through reason.

ART AS REPRESENTATION (ARISTOTLE)

According to him, the aim of art is not to represent the outward appearance of things but their inwards significance.
Aristotle, agreed with Plato that art is a form of imitation. However, Aristotle considered art as an aid to philosophy in
revealing the truth. The kind of imitation that art does is not antithetical to the reaching of fundamental truths in the
world.

Unlike Plato who thought that art is an imitation of another imitation, Aristotle conceived of art as representing possible
versions of reality. For Aristotle, all kinds of art do not aim to represent reality as it is, it endeavors to provide a version of
what might be or the myriad possibilities of reality.

In Aristotelian worldview, art serves two particular purposes: Art allows for the experience of pleasure (horrible experience
can be made an object of humor.Art also has an ability to be instructive and teach its audience things about life (cognitive]

According to Immanuel Kant art has its own reason for being. It implies that an art object is best understood as an
autonomous creation to be valued only for its success as it organizes color and line into a formally satisfying and beautiful
whole. In his Critique of Judgment, consider the judgment of beauty, the cornerstone of art, as something that can be
universal despite its subjectivity.

Kant recognized that judgment of beauty is subjective. However, even subjective judgments are based on some universal
criterion for the said judgement.

ART AS A COMMUNICATION OF EMOTION (TOLSTOY)

According to Leo Tolstoy, art plays a huge role in communication to its audience’s emotions that the artist prviously
experienced. In the same that language communicates information to other people, art communicates emotions.

A. SUBJECT ART

The subject of art is the matter to be described or to be portrayed by the artist. It may refer to any person, object, scene, or
event. The subject could be make-believe, imaginary, and invented. Subjects can also be real events, etc. The term subject
in art refers to the main idea that is represented in the artwork. The subject in art is basically the essence of the piece. To
determine subject matter in a particular piece of art, ask yourself: What is actually depicted in this artwork?
TWO KINDS OF ART AS TO SUBJECT

REPRESENTATIONAL OR OBJECTIVE ART

They are those arts depict (represent) objects that are commonly recognized by most people.

They attempt to portray the subject art it is. The artist would try to be objective as possible and they use "form". These
types of art have subjects that refer to objects that refer to objects or events occurring in the real world. Also termed
figurative art because the figures depicted are easy to make out and decipher.

The word "representational," when used to describe a work of art, means that the work depicts something easily
recognized by most people. Throughout our history as art-creating humans, most art has been representational.

History of Representational Art

Representational art got its start many millennia ago with Late Paleolithic figurines and carvings. Venus of Willendorf, while
not too terribly realistic, is clearly meant to show the figure of a woman. She was created around 25,000 years ago and is
an excellent example of the earliest representational art.

Ancient examples of representational art are often in the form of sculptures, decorative friezes, bas-reliefs, and busts
representing real people, idealized gods, and scenes from nature. During the middle ages, European artists focused largely
on religious subjects.

During the Renaissance, major artists such as Michaelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci created extraordinarily realistic
paintings and sculptures. Artists were also commissioned to paint portraits of members of the nobility. Some artists created
workshops in which they trained apprentices in their own style of painting.

By the 19th century, representative artists were beginning to experiment with new ways of expressing themselves visually.
They were also exploring new subjects: instead of focusing on portraits, landscapes, and religious subjects, artist’s
experiments with socially relevant topics related to the Industrial Revolution.

Still life – is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate 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.
Portraiture (portrait) – is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face
and its expression is predominant. The purpose may be to show the resemblance, personality, or disposition of the
individual.

Landscapes, Seascapes, Cityscapes

NON-REPRESENTATIONAL OR NON OBJECTIVE ART

They are those arts without any reference to anything outside itself (without representation). This kind of art is
nonobjective because it has no recognizable objects. It is abstract in the sense that it does represent real objects in our
world. It uses "content". Nonrepresentational art is often used as another way to refer to abstract art, but there is a distinct
difference between the two.Fundamentally, nonrepresentational art is work that does not represent or depict a being,
place, or thing.

If representational art is a picture of something, for instance, nonrepresentational art is the complete opposite: Rather than
directly portray something recognizable, the artist will use form, shape, and color, and line— essential elements in visual art
—to express emotion, feeling, or some other concept. It's also called "complete abstraction" or nonfigurative art.
Nonobjective art is related and often viewed as a subcategory of nonrepresentational art. Nonrepresentational Art Versus
Abstraction

The terms "nonrepresentational art" and "abstract art" are often used to refer to the same style of painting. However,
when an artist works in abstraction, they are distorting the view of a known thing, person, or place. For example, a
landscape can easily be abstracted, and Picasso often abstracted people and instruments. Nonrepresentational art, on the
other hand, does not begin with a "thing" or subject from which a distinctive abstract view is formed. Instead, it is
"nothing" but what the artist intended it to be and what the viewer interprets it as. It could be splashes of paint as we see
in Jackson Pollock's work. It may also be the color-blocked squares that are frequent in

B. SOURCE OF THE SUBJECT OF ART

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 common inspiration and subject.
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.

Greek and Roman Mythology – this has been a very importance source of subject in the art. During the Renaissance period,
poets, painters, and sculptors drew largely from Greek and Roman sources for subject.

Religion – this has been a very importance source of subject in the art. During the Renaissance period, poets, painters, and
sculptors drew largely from Greek and Roman sources for subject.

C. CONTENT OF ART

As outlined in the beginning, in discussing works of art, the subject may simply be referred to as the “what” – what is
readily seen and relates to the artworks, its inspiration, and the many kind of translation. One of the foremost scholars that
expounded on content analysis or how meaning is arrived at is art historian Erwin Panofsky in his seminar work “Meaning
in the Visual Art” (1995).

His methodology will later have identified as iconology through the interpretation of iconography. The meaning or message
that is expressed or communicated by the artwork. In understanding the content of art, it is important to note that there
are various levels of meaning:

a. Factual meaning – 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.

b.Conventional meaning – 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.

c.Subjective meaning – 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