The general sense of the canvas is divided into three categories: Portraits, landscapes and still life.
(1)Figure is to life as specific performance targets, Specific figures reveal character traits and social life style. European works of religious subjects are portrayed characters object.
The image of Goddess and Christ are derived from the life of the characters. The 15th century, the rise of oil-based paint. So that artists can be more accurate and vivid figures show the characteristics of skin and clothing with the light and the nuances of atmosphere. Bellini, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian and other masters of figure oil paintings works, and its realistic, such as reflected in its people.The 17th century figure, whose image is more natural, vivid and full of charm.The 18th century figure painting techniques more skilled. The 19th century to the 20th century, the style of figure painting emerged diversification.
Figure also can be divided into portraits, custom oil painting, historical painting and military paintings.①Portraits, including portrait, bust, bust, single portraits, and groups like double as such. On the nature, portraits are divided into commemorative portraits, costumes portraits, portraits of life, such as self-portraits. Self-portrait is one of the many artists used the theme. Dutch master Rembrandt portrait of his life to portraits and artistic activities as their main objective. And made some more than 70 pieces of self-portraits.
②Custom painting is based on the performance of social life, customs themes oil paintings. Custom oil painting and more based on real life, most likely to arouse public sympathy. Miller, such as France's "Gleaners," " Night bell" and so on.
③Historical Pictures main performance the development of human society in a meaningful event. Including myths and legends, historical stories, as well as modern life meaningful event. Such as the "founding ceremony" of Dong Xiwen,Dawit's "Mara's death".
④Military painting is based on the performance of war-themed works. such as Spain artists Lars's "Tatsu out of the drop cloth."
(2)Landscape painting as an independent genre is the 17th century Dutch painter as an Pioneer's. Prior to this, more describe the scene to figure appears in the background. The development of landscape painting in general has experienced classicism, realism, impressionism, post-Impressionist and modern symbolic landscapes, such as several stages. French painter Corot, Courbet, Russian painter Levitan are excellent landscape painter.
 
(3)Still life and more based on day-to-day appliances, flowers, fruits, food, etc., as well as hunting. Painter to write complex situation, through the portrayal of still life reflects the life style and the characteristics of the times. The earliest might be classified as areas of still life paintings in the Roman period of Pompeii. And painting as an independent species began in the 17th century Dutch painting. Art history, on the static oil painting had a significant impact on the development of the artists are: Caravaggio, Cole Martinez, Chardin, Manet, Cezanne and so on.