Methods of Presenting the Arts Subject

1.Realism 5.Dadaism
2.Abstraction 6.Futurism
3.Symbolism 7.Surrealism
4.Fauvism 8.Expressionism
Realism
◦ In art, this is the attempt to portray the subject as it is. Even
when the artist chooses a subject from nature, he selects,
changes, and arranges details to express the idea he wants to
make clear.
 The Gleaners by
Jean-Francois Millet

The Stonebreakers
1849 Gustave Courbet
Abstraction
◦ This is used when the artist becomes so interested in one phase of a
scene or situation that he does not show the subject at all as an
objective reality, but only his idea, or his feeling about it.
◦ Abstract subjects can also be presented in many ways like:
- Distortion
- Elongation
- Mangling
- Cubism
- Abstract Expressionism
A. Distortion – this is clearly manifested when the subject is in misshapen
condition, or the regular shape is twisted out.

Henry Moore OM, CH,

'Recumbent Figure' 1938
 B. Elongation – it refers to that which
is being lengthened, a protraction or an
extension.

Resurrection, 1584-94
by El Greco
C. Mangling – this may not be a commonly used way of presenting an abstract
subject, but there are few artists who show subject or objects which are cut,
lacerated, mutilated or hacked with repeated blows.

Pin by Gregory
Turner-Rahman
D. Cubism – it stresses abstract form through the use of a cone,
cylinder, or sphere at the expense of other pictorial elements.

The Weeping
Woman by
Pablo Picasso
E. Abstract Expressionism – is a style of abstract painting that originated
in New York City after World War II and gained an international vogue.
Symbolism
◦ A symbol, in general, is a visible sign of something invisible such as
an idea or quality.
The Spoliarium; Juan Luna
Fauvism
◦ The fauves did not attempt to express ethical, philosophical, or
psychological themes. Most of these artists tried to paint pictures of
comfort, joy and pleasure. They used extremely bright colors.
 André Derain
L'Estaque, 1905
The Museum of
Modern Art, New
York
Dadaism
◦ The name “dada,” a French word meaning “hobby horse,” was
deliberately chosen because it was nonsensical.
Marcel Duchamp, 1912, Le
Roi et la Reine entourés
de Nus vites (The King
and Queen Surrounded by
Swift Nudes)
Futurism
◦ Futurist painters wanted their works to capture the speed and force of
modern industrial society. Their paintings glorified the mechanical
energy of modern life.
 "Futurism
Composition," by
Megan Risebrough
Surrealism
◦ Surrealism is an invented word meaning super realism. This
movement was influenced by the Freudian psychology which
emphasizes the activities of the subconscious state of the mind. Using
this method, the surrealists declare that the magical world – more
beautiful than the real one – can be created in art and literature.
Marc Chagall - I and the
Village
Expressionism
◦ The emotional expressions in expressionistic paintings could be
described as involving pathos, morbidity, violence or chaos, and
tragedy. It sometimes portrays defeat.
 The Scream
Edvard Munch
Norwegian: Skrik,
German: Der Schrei der Natur