Historically paintings have been classified in five different ways, depending on the types of subjects in the painting in question. The five genres of painting subject are:

History Painting

These focus on a representation of a particular historical, religious, or allegorical event. As such, a moral message is usually a key component of the painting in question.

Portrait Art

Portrait art uses people as its subjects. The most commonly known type of portrait art focuses on a single person, but group or self-portraits are also classified under this type of painting subject.

Genre Painting

A genre painting has an everyday scene as its subject. This differs from landscape painting as in genre painting it is the representation of life itself which is the subject. Examples may include workers going about their day or a banquet being held, what is important is the scene itself, not the individuals who make up the scene.

Landscape Painting

Landscape paintings are one of the most popular and enduring types of subjects, focusing on a natural scene. Most landscape paintings aim for a sense of realism, focusing on things like the light shining through clouds or reflecting off the water.

Still Life Painting

A still life painting looks at everyday or domestic objects and aims to accurately represent them. This can be used as a way to practice painting techniques, such as the way colours change as light and shadow drape across an object.