Subject and Content in Art

1.  In almost all art forms – painting, sculpture, photography,
music, literature, theater, or dance – there is a subject that
serves as the foundation of the creation of the work of art.
 The Subject Matter is the most obvious aspect of an
artwork. It is what the work of art depicts or represents. It
may be a person, an object, a scene, or an event. The
subject provides the answer to the question: What is the
work of art all about?
 The subject matter of art should not be basis for judging
works of art. It doesn’t mean that the representational arts
are superior to non-representational arts. Some arts have a
subject, others do not.

2.  Subject matter is the literal, visible image
in a work. It is the subject of the artwork,
e.g., still life, portrait, landscape etc.
 Content includes the connotative, symbolic,
and suggestive aspects of the image. It is not
subject or things in the work of art but it is the
communication of ideas, feelings and reactions
connected with the subject.

3. a. Representational or figurative art – aims to present actual
objects or subjects from reality. They are artworks which are
based on images which can be found in the objective world,
or at least in the artist’s imagination; i.e., images which can
perhaps be named or recognized. Painting, sculpture,
graphic arts, literature, and theater art are generally
classified as representational, although some paintings and
sculptures are without subjects.
b. Non – representational or non-objective – these artworks
does not represent or depict a person, place, or thing in the
natural world. Usually, the content of the work is its color,
shapes, brushstrokes, sixe, scale, and in some cases, its
process.

4.  Mythological
a genre in painting based on mythical stories.
 Historical
a genre in painting defined by its subject matter rather
than artistic style. It was generally understood to depict
an important historical event or action involving several
people.
 Still Life
a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter,
typically commonplace objects which are either natural
(food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.)
or man-made (drinking glasses, vases, jewelry, coins,
pipes, etc.)

5.  Representational Art
also known as figurative art, it references objects, or
events in the real world
 Religious
an artistic imagery using religious inspiration and motifs
and is often intended to uplift the mind to the spiritual.
 Portrait
an artistic representation of a person, in which the face
and its expression is predominant. The intent is to
display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of
the person.
 Cityscape
an artistic representation of the physical aspects of a
city or urban area.

6.  Surreal
an artwork characterized by the evocative
juxtaposition of incongruous images in order to
include unconscious and dream elements.
 Seascape
an artwork that depicts the sea.
 Genre
an artwork that portrays aspects of everyday life
by portraying ordinary people engage in common
activities.
 Animal Themed Art
an artwork that represents scenes that either
contain animals or are visibly influenced by them.

7.  Floral Art
an artwork that shows flower and plants.
 Non-representational Art
an artwork that does not represent or depict a
being, a place, or a thing in the natural world.
 Abstract
art that does not attempt to represent an
accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead
use shapes, colors, forms and gestural marks to
achieve its effect.
 Landscape
the depiction of natural scenery in art such as
mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests.

8. .
Awardee Date of Award Category
1. Fernando Amorsolo (++) 1972 Painting
2. Francisca R. Aquino (+) 1973 Dance
3. Carlos V. Francisco (++) 1973 Painting
4. Amado V. Hernandez (++) 1973 Literature
5. Antonio J. Molina (+) 1973 Music
6. Juan F. Nakpil (+) 1973 Architecture
7. Guillermo E. Tolentino (+) 1973 Sculpture
8. Jose Garcia Villa (+) 1973 Literature
9. Napoleon V. Abueva 1976 Sculpture
10. Lamberto V. Avellana (+) 1976 Theater and Film

9. 11. Leonor O. Goquingco (+) 1976 Dance
12. Nick Joaquin (+) 1976 Literature
13. Jovita Fuentes (+) 1976 Music
14. Victorio C. Edades (+) 1976 Painting
15. Pablo S. Antonio (++) 1976 Architecture
16. Vicente S. Manansala (++) 1981 Painting
17. Carlos P. Romulo (+) 1982 Literature
18. Gerardo de Leon (++) 1982 Cinema
19. Honorata “Atang” dela
Rama (++)
1987
Theater and
Music
20. Antonino R. Buenaventura
1988 Music

10. 21. Lucrecia R. Urtula (+) 1988 Dance
22. Lucrecia R. Kasilag (+) 1989 Music
23. Francisco Arcellana (+) 1990 Literature
24. Cesar F. Legaspi (+) 1990 Visual Arts
25. Leandro V. Locsin (+) 1990 Architecture
26. Hernando R. Ocampo
(++)
1991 Visual Arts
27. Lucio D. San Pedro (+) 1991 Music
28. Lino Brocka (++) 1997 Cinema
29. Felipe P. de Leon (++) 1997 Music
30. Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
(++)
1997 Theater

11. 31. Rolando S. Tinio (++) 1997
Theater &
Literature
32. Levi Celerio (+) 1997
Music &
Literature
33. N.V.M. Gonzales (++) 1997 Literature
34. Arturo R. Luz 1997 Visual Arts
35. Jose M. Maceda (+) 1997 Music
36. Carlos Quirino (+) 1997
Historical
Literature
37. J. Elizalde Navarro (++) 1999 Painting
38. Prof. Andrea
Veneracion (+)
1999 Music
39. Edith L. Tiempo (+) 1999 Literature
40. Daisy H. Avellana (+) 1999 Theater

12. 41. Ernani J. Cuenco (++) 1999 Music
42. F. Sionil Jose 2001 Literature
43. Ang Kiukok (+) 2001 Visual Arts
44. Ishmael Bernal (++) 2001 Cinema
45. Severino Montano (++) 2001 Theater
46. Jose T. Joya (++) 2003
Visual Arts
(Painting)
47. Virgilio S. Almario 2003 Literature
48. Alejandro R. Roces (+) 2003 Literature
49. Eddie S. Romero (+) 2003
Cinema &
Broadcast Arts
50. Salvador F. Bernal (+) 2003 Theater Design

13. 51. Benedicto R. Cabrera 2006 Visual Arts
52. Abdulmari Asia Imao 2006 Visual Arts
53. Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera 2006 Literature
54. Ramon Obusan (+) 2006 Dance
55. Fernando Poe Jr. (++) 2006 Cinema
56. Archt. Ildefonso P. Santos,
Jr. (+)
2006
Landscape
Architecture
57. Ramon O. Valera (++) 2006 Fashion Design
58. Manuel Conde (++) 2009 Film
59. Lázaro Francísco (++) 2009 Literature
60. Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (+) 2009 Visual Arts
61. Alice Reyes 2014 Dance
62. Francisco V. Coching (++) 2014 Visual Arts
63. Cirilo F. Bautista 2014 Literature
64. Francisco F. Feliciano 2014 Music
65. Ramon P. Santos 2014 Music