Exploring Subjects in Art

Meanings, Kinds, and Functions of Art Subjects

• The appeal of most works of art lies in the representation of familiar objects.
• People enjoy art by recognizing the subject or understanding the narrative content.
• The subject of art refers to any person, object, scene, or event described or represented in a work of art.
• Representational or objective arts, such as painting, sculpture, graphic arts, literature, and theatre arts, have a subject.
• Non-representational or non-objective arts, such as music, architecture, and many functional arts, do not have a subject.
• Program music is a type of music that has a subject.
• Program music is a musical composition that represents or describes a specific subject.
• The artist chooses the subject of their art.
• The subject can be anything the artist wants to depict or explore.
• The subject can be the ugly or tragic aspects of life.
• The subject is different from the content of the artwork.
• The subject gives the viewer or audience something to recognize or understand in the artwork.

Test your knowledge on the meanings, types, and functions of the subject in art. Explore how artists choose their subjects and the various ways they represent them. Understand the significance of the ugly and tragic in art, and learn about the relationship between subject and content. Discover what makes a subject appealing in works of art.