OBJECTIVE / NON OBJECTIVE

Range in Artwork

Objective Art

We call a painting “objective” or "representational" if it portrays specific, recognizable physical objects. In some cases, the representational paintings look true to life, almost like a photograph.

For example, consider the following painting by Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606-1669). This painting is called "The Anatomy Lecture of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp", and was painted in 1632.

Objective Art

Objective Art

And sometimes we just recognize the subject matter, but it is not necessarily realistic, as in this Picasso artwork:

“American Gothic”

Non - Objective

Non objective art is extremely abstracted. You cannot recognize elements in the art as anything specific such as a person, landscape, etc.

By the beginning of the 20th century painters previously restricted by the conventions of representational art were able to enter a realm in which unbounded imagination was, not only possible, but desirable - abstraction.

Non - Objective

“Improvisation 7”(1910)Wassily Kandinsky

Non - Objective

"Lavender Mist" [1950] by Jackson Pollock. 

Abstracted Art

All artwork is abstracted (simplified) to a degree. There are three types of abstraction.

Slight abstraction which is objective and descriptive (describing exactly what they see).

Moderate abstraction which is objective and decorative (and impression or idea of what the artist sees).

Extreme abstraction which is non objective and decorative.

Slight Abstraction

"Apples, Peaches, Pears and Grapes" [1880] by Cézanne. 

Moderate Abstraction

Pablo Picasso, “Three Musicians” (1921)

Extreme Abstraction

"One Year the Milkweed" [1944] by Arshile Gorky

Decorative

Not realistic, moderately or extremely abstract—can be either objective or non-objective

Descriptive

Sometimes the artist chooses to create an artwork that is quite realistic—he or she is “describing” what they see:

Objective or Non Objective?

"Wheatstacks (End of Summer)" [1890-1891] by Monet

Objective or Non Objective?

Objective or Non Objective?

Slight, Moderate or Extreme?

“From the Lake”Georgia O’Keeffe

Slight, Moderate or Extreme?

“Café Terrace at Night”Vincent Van Gogh

Slight. Moderate or Extreme?

“Luncheon of the Boating Party” by Pierre Auguste Renoir

Slight, Moderate or Extreme?

Picasso’s Guitars

Decorative or Descriptive?

Decorative or Descriptive?

Decorative or Descriptive?

Degree of abstraction? S, M, EObjective or Non-Objective?Decorative or Descriptive?

Degree of abstraction? S, M, EObjective or Non-Objective?Decorative or Descriptive?

Degree of abstraction? S, M, EObjective or Non-Objective?Decorative or Descriptive?