The Subject Matter:

When analyzing a work of art the first component you will examine is the works Subject Matter. This is an examination of the basic components of the piece and you do this by listing what you "see"

For example in the piece above, Son of Man by Rene Magritte 1964 oil on canvas, the subject matter is a man standing in front of a short wall with the sea behind him in the background. There are a lot of clouds in the sky. The man is in a coat and there is an apple in front of his face.

No examination of technique or of meaning, just simply what you "see".

For this assignment please choose any work made before 1850. Identify the work (title, artist, medium and year) and please tell us the subject matter of the work.