Types of Art Subject
Summary
TLDRThis video lesson explores three types of art: representational, abstract, and non-representational. Representational art depicts identifiable objects, such as landscapes or portraits, while abstract art distorts reality but remains derived from real-world subjects. Non-representational art, on the other hand, completely detaches from recognizable forms, focusing solely on color, shape, and line to convey emotions or concepts. The instructor highlights examples from famous artists like John Singer Sargent, Paul Cézanne, Piet Mondrian, and Wassily Kandinsky. The lesson concludes by emphasizing the diverse beauty and meaning behind these different art forms.
Takeaways
- 🎨 Representational art depicts recognizable subjects from real life, such as trees, apples, or people.
- 🖼️ Representational art doesn't need to be a realistic depiction; it can be abstracted but still identifiable, like Claude Monet's painting of a bridge.
- 🌳 John Singer Sargent’s watercolor of a white ox and Paul Cézanne’s painting of four apples are examples of representational art.
- 🎨 Abstract art represents a departure from reality and can vary in degrees of abstraction, with the subject still being somewhat recognizable.
- 🖌️ Abstract art can range from loose brushwork to highly distorted forms, like works from the Impressionist movement.
- 🌀 Non-representational art does not depict recognizable objects from real life; it focuses on form, color, and line to express emotions or ideas.
- 🟦 Piet Mondrian’s use of geometric shapes and primary colors in his work exemplifies non-representational art.
- 🔺 Wassily Kandinsky's 'Composition 8' is a perfect example of non-objective painting, focusing solely on geometric shapes and lines.
- 🎭 Non-representational art allows for subjective interpretation, as the viewer is left to derive meaning from the piece without a clear subject.
- ✨ The video concludes by summarizing the differences between representational, abstract, and non-representational art, emphasizing their unique approaches to visual expression.
Q & A
What is representational art?
-Representational art refers to art that clearly represents something recognizable from real life, such as a tree, apple, or human figure. It does not have to be a realistic depiction but must still be identifiable as a representation of something existing in the world.
Can representational art include elements of abstraction?
-Yes, representational art can include varying levels of abstraction. Even if the colors or shapes are distorted, like in the works of Paul Cézanne or Claude Monet, the art is still recognizable as something real.
What are common examples of representational art?
-Common examples of representational art include portraits, landscapes, still life paintings, historical or mythological works, and figurative statues.
What is the difference between representational and abstract art?
-Representational art depicts objects or scenes from the real world, while abstract art departs from reality and can exist on a continuum from slight abstraction to a complete departure from recognizable forms.
How long has abstract art been a part of the art world?
-Abstract art has been around for over 100 years and is considered a vital, longstanding tradition in creative culture. Some even trace its roots back to prehistoric cave paintings.
What is non-representational art, and how does it differ from abstract art?
-Non-representational art does not depict anything from the real world. Unlike abstract art, which distorts real-life objects or figures, non-representational art is purely about form, color, and line, without any recognizable subject.
What are the primary visual elements used in non-representational art?
-Non-representational art uses fundamental visual elements such as form, shape, color, and line to express emotions or concepts without depicting a specific subject.
Can non-representational art convey meaning, and how is it interpreted?
-Non-representational art leaves meaning open to the viewer's interpretation. Although it does not represent anything specific, viewers can derive personal emotions, thoughts, or interpretations from the use of shapes and colors.
Who are some artists known for non-representational art?
-Artists like Piet Mondrian and Wassily Kandinsky are known for non-representational art. Their works, such as Mondrian's 'Blue One' and Kandinsky's 'Composition 8,' focus on geometric shapes and colors without depicting recognizable objects.
How does the subject matter of non-representational art challenge traditional views of art?
-Non-representational art challenges traditional views by not representing any recognizable subject matter. This can be unsettling for viewers used to seeing identifiable objects, as the focus shifts entirely to abstract forms, lines, and colors.
Outlines
🖼️ Introduction to Representational Art
The first type of art discussed is representational art, which depicts recognizable objects, people, or scenes from real life, such as trees, apples, or human figures. While the art doesn't need to be completely realistic, it must be identifiable. Examples include portraits, landscapes, and historical paintings. Artists like John Singer Sargent and Paul Cézanne are highlighted, with their works representing objects in a stylized or distorted way, yet still recognizable. Representational art can range from detailed to more abstract, as seen in Impressionist paintings, which though loosely rendered, still portray identifiable subjects.
🎨 Exploring Abstract Art
Abstract art is introduced as a style that departs from realistic representation. It involves distorting forms or simplifying shapes, colors, and compositions, and exists on a spectrum of abstraction. Abstract art has been around for over a century and often challenges traditional views on art. The text discusses how abstract art may not always be easy to understand but is crucial to cultural debate and creativity. Artists like Tomogita, known for blending figurative and abstract styles, show how abstraction can still evoke emotion or provoke thought. Examples from Impressionism and abstract movements illustrate this complex art form.
🌈 Delving into Non-Representational Art
Non-representational art, often confused with abstract art, is defined as art that does not depict recognizable objects or scenes. Instead, it focuses on the use of form, shape, color, and line to convey emotion or abstract concepts. Unlike abstract art, which may still distort real-world objects, non-representational art begins with no reference to the physical world. Works by Jackson Pollock and Piet Mondrian are examples, with Pollock’s splashes of paint and Mondrian’s geometric shapes serving as expressions of pure artistic intent. The freedom of interpretation is a key feature, although this ambiguity can challenge viewers.
🖌️ Summary of Art Styles: Representational, Abstract, and Non-Representational
This final section recaps the three major types of art discussed. Representational art captures real-world objects and scenes in a recognizable way. Abstract art, existing on a continuum, distorts real-world imagery to varying degrees but still references identifiable subjects. Non-representational art, by contrast, does not depict anything from the real world and relies solely on shapes, colors, and lines to express abstract concepts or emotions. The segment concludes with a reminder of the fluidity and creativity within art, while thanking the audience for their engagement with the lesson.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Representational Art
💡Abstract Art
💡Non-Representational Art
💡John Singer Sargent
💡Paul Cézanne
💡Claude Monet
💡Cubism
💡Jackson Pollock
💡Piet Mondrian
💡Wassily Kandinsky
Highlights
Representational art refers to art that represents something identifiable, such as a tree, apple, or human figure.
In representational art, objects don't have to be true to life, as long as they are recognizable.
Representational art includes portraits, traditional landscapes, still lifes, and figurative sculptures.
John Singer Sargent's watercolor of a white ox and Paul Cézanne's painting 'Four Apples' are examples of representational art.
Representational art can involve varying levels of abstraction, where objects remain identifiable but may be distorted in form or color.
Impressionist artists like Claude Monet used loose brushwork and simplified forms, creating abstract elements while still representing recognizable subjects.
Abstract art indicates a departure from reality and exists on a continuum, ranging from slightly abstracted figures to non-representational forms.
Abstract art, although perplexing and hard to define, has been an important part of art history for over a century.
Tomogita's abstract work blends figurative elements, using abstraction to create a unique and visually striking piece.
Non-representational art refers to work that does not depict any recognizable objects or beings, focusing instead on form, color, and line.
Non-representational art is also called complete abstraction or non-figurative art, and often invites subjective interpretation from viewers.
Jackson Pollock's splashes of paint and Mark Rothko's color-blocked squares are examples of non-representational art.
Piet Mondrian's 'Blue One' and Wassily Kandinsky's 'Composition 8' are classic examples of non-representational art that emphasize form and color.
Non-representational art is often challenging for viewers because it offers freedom of interpretation, moving away from recognizable subjects.
The lecture concludes by summarizing the three art forms: representational art, abstract art, and non-representational art, each with its own approach to depicting the world and emotions.
Transcripts
welcome back
let's now discuss the first type of art
subject representational art
representational art refers to art which
represents something whether that be a
tree in a landscape apple in a still
life or figure in a portrait or in other
words it is art which is clearly
identifiable as something which already
exists in life
in painting and sculpture the term
representational art usually refers to
images that are clearly recognizable for
what they prefer to be
such as a human figure
a banana a tree and so on
such images need not be true to life
so a tree does not have to be green
or even upright but it must clearly
represent or be recognizable as a tree
one can say that representational art
includes all imagery which represents an
identifiable object or series of objects
common examples of these types of art
includes portraits
traditional landscapes
paintings of everyday scenes
historical or methodological painting
steel lives and of course
various types of figurative and
equestrian statue
now we have two examples of
representational arc here
state starting with a watercolor by john
singer sergeant sergeant which
represents a white ox and the painting
four apples by paul cezanne represents
apples on the table
even though the colors are distorted or
the shapes are distorted they still
represent the image of the real life
objects
representational art does not need to be
a completely realistic depiction of the
subject
there will often be varying levels of
abstraction
for example the impressionist painted
with loose brushwork and simplified
forms
often far from realistic depiction but
their work can still be identifiable as
something which already exists
the painting below by claude bonnet is
loose and vague but it still clearly
represents a bridge
boats and distant buildings in an
ambient seascapes right
second we have abstract art
what is abstract art
i know you're familiar with it right
okay
abstraction
indicates a departure from reality in
depiction of imagery in art
abstraction exists along a continuum
abstract art can formally refer to
compositions that are derived or
abstracted from a figurative or other
natural source
abstract art has been with us in one
form or another for almost a century now
and has proved to be not only a
long-standing crux of culture debate but
a self-renewing
vital tradition of creativity
we know that it works even if we're
still not sure why that's so or exactly
what to make or that fact
you may like abstract art outright
hate it or not understand exactly what
it is but since we're here already
i can at least assume you're curious
about this perplexing art form that
evades definition
and artistic classification
abstract art has been around for well
over 100 years
some might even assert that abstraction
started with the cave paintings or
thousands of years ago and has held its
own against changing art movements
manifestos and testimonials for all
these
centuries
a major obstacle to making an abstract
artwork is the barrier in your mind that
questions whether abstract art is
legitimate art form
or legitimate for you at least take for
example in this picture
tomogita's abstract work are perfectly
melded with a figurative
at his impressive first museum solo
exhibition at kawamura memorial dic
museum of art in chiba in 2014 scorn was
cited by many to have stood out as the
strongest painting to the show
this painting
perfectly balances the millennial
seductiveness of the soft graduate
gradation of gray recalling an out of
focus photograph photograph with an
obscured face
okay
next the last but not the least we have
non-representational art
so non-representational art is often
used as another way to refer to abstract
art
but
there is a distinct difference between
the two
fundamentally
non-representational art is work that
does not represent or depict a being
place or thing
if representational art is a picture of
something for instance
non-representational art is the complete
opposite
rather than directly portray
something recognizable the artist will
use form
shape color and line essential elements
in visual art to express emotion
feeling or some other concept
it's also called complete abstraction
or non-figurative art
non-objective art is related and often
viewed as
sub-category of non-representational art
the terms
non-representational 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 of an abstracted
people and instruments right
non-representational 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
nothing but what the artist intended it
to be and what the viewer interpret it
as it is
it could be splashes of paint as we see
in jack's
jackson pollock's work
it may also be the color blocked squares
that are frequent in marc rocco's
paintings
the beauty of non-representational work
is that it is up to us to give it
meaning through our own interpretation
sure
if you look at the title of some piece
of art you may get a glimpse into what
the artist mean meant but quite often
that's just an obscure as the painting
itself
it is quite the opposite of looking at a
steel life iv teapot and knowing that it
is a teapot
similarly an abstract artist may use a
cubist approach to break down the
geometry of the teapot but
you may still be able to see a teapot if
a non-representational artist on the
other hand was thinking of a teapot
while painting in a canvas you'd never
know it
while this subjective point of view to
non-representational art offers freedom
of interpretation to the viewer
it is also what bothers some people
about the style
they want the art to be about something
so when they see seemingly random lines
or perfect shaded geometric shapes
it changes what they're used to
for example of non-representational art
we have two paintings here
we have first let's have blue one by
piet mondrian and the second one is the
composition eight by felicia kandinsky
in tableau one
the use of geometric blocks
clear defined black lines and use of
block
primary colors demonstrates this
the blocks in the painting are all
different sizes
some different colors but they combine
to form one piece art of artwork
the use of vertical and horizontal black
lines is meant to emphasize both the
differentiation and natural synthesis
between these shapes
the use of primary colors shown mondrian
is referring to the concept of building
something from the absolute basics
in the same way that the primary colors
are fundamental to every color produced
in every painting
kandanski's composition 8 from 1923
is a perfect example of non-objective
painting
the russian painter is known as one of
the pioneers of this tile
and this particular piece has the purity
that best represents it
you will notice the careful placement of
each geometrical shape and line almost
as if it were designed by a
mathematician
though the piece has a sense of movement
no matter how hard you try you will not
find meaning or subject within it
many of candid keys other words follow
the same distinct style too
okay so we have already tackled the
types of subject
to sum up
first one representational art or
figurative art represents objects or
events in real world
usually looking easily recognizable
abstract art on the other hand exists on
a continuum
from somewhat representational work to
work that is so far removed from its
actual real world appearance that it is
almost impossible to easily discern what
is being represented
work that does not depict anything from
the real world like figures and
landscapes animals and others is called
non-representational
non-representational art may simply
depict shapes colors lines and others
but may also express things that are not
visible like emotions or feelings for
example
okay so we are all done for our topic
for today and thank you for always
listening to this complex yet beautiful
world of art once again this is ian paul
h dog your instructor in g106 art
appreciation remember that you are a
masterpiece and you are unique see you
in our next class
bye
[Music]
you
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