Question

this painting is by james whistler, and is entitled, symphony in blue and pink. what is the subject matter of this piece?
a. the mood established by the colors and the musical feel created by the brushstrokes.
b. the arrangement of the women so that they are vertically symmetrical.
c. the experience and memories shared by the four figures in the painting.
d. the four figures standing on the beach.

Explanation:

The painting "Symphony in Blue and Pink" by James Whistler visually depicts four figures (people) on a beach - like setting. Option a refers to mood and brushstroke feel (more about style/atmosphere), option b about vertical symmetry (a compositional element, not subject matter), option c about shared experiences (not visually depicted). The subject matter is the visible content, which is the four figures on the beach.

Answer:

d. The four figures standing on the beach.