When describing the subject of art there are three categories that it can be classified; representational, abstract or non-objective.  If a piece of work is representational it means that the subject is easily defined.  For example, the dog looks just like a dog with no exaggerations or distractions.  The subject of an abstract piece of art my have some distortions, but it the viewer is still able to identify it.  When a piece of work is difficult to identify it is said to be non-objective.  These subjects are meant to make the viewer feel the subject rather than immediately see what is being portrayed.  Many times art can represent more than one of these classifications.  There is a continuum that the subject can fall into between representational, abstract and non-objective art.

1.  Artist Wesley Wofford, Title Great Dane

This piece of art is clearly representative imagery.  The viewer can easily see that the sculpture is of a dog and more specifically a great dane.  There is detail to the musculature of the dogs body and face.

2.  Artist Mark Ulriksen, Title Jolly Roger, Date 2014

The Jolly Roger still seems mainly representative as it is easily identified as a dog.  There are features of abstract with the exaggerated nose and face on a smaller body.

3.  Artist Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, Title A Dog, Date 1913

This art work could be representative or abstract.  It has more abstract features than the previous piece with the simple outline of the dog, but less abstract features than the next piece of work because it is clearly a dog.

4.  Artist Edward Ruscha, Title Dog, Date 1995, printed and signed 1994

Dog fits the definition of abstract.  It is identifiable as a dog, however the detail is blurry.  The blades of grass draw the viewer to the silhouette of the dog’s face with the contrast of the black and beige.

5.  Artist Roger Hilton, Title Two Dogs, Date 1973

This artwork has features of abstract just as the previous piece did with an added feature of non-objective imagery.  The viewer can identify the shapes as dogs, however there are distractions from the images with the shapes and colors.

6.  Artist Elizabeth Murray, Title Up Dog, Date 1987-1988

Up Dog includes even more features of non-objective imagery.  It is slightly identifiable as a dog.  The lines create shapes that give the artwork a sense of an animal, but the viewer must look closer to see the dog.

7.  Artist Robert Motherwell, Title Goya’s Dog, Date 1975

This piece of art does not create the image of a dog, so it is a good example of non-objective.  The viewer may have a sense that an animal is involved in the art, but it is not identified as such.