The introduction to art history

About this course

The course surveys Western art from antiquity to the present, including Greek sculpture, early Christian art and architecture, Renaissance and Baroque traditions, nineteenth-century painting, and twentieth-century abstraction and conceptual art. It considers how historical context, artistic intention and formal qualities shape interpretations of artworks, alongside changes in their function, value and the status of artists. Teaching combines lectures, slide presentations and discussion of short readings and other resources. The course also introduces biographical, critical and art historical writing that influenced the development of art history as a discipline.

What you'll learn

• Compare different approaches to interpreting artworks, including historical, intentional and formal analysis.
• Describe ways in which the function and value of artworks have changed over time.
• Identify authors whose biographical, critical or art historical writing influenced interpretations of art.

Is this course right for you?

The course is presented as suitable for all levels. Participants should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and should expect to contribute to group discussions.

• Includes discussion of short readings and other resources.
• Requires participation in a group learning format.

Before you go

• A notebook may be useful but is optional.
• Course documents are shared through Google Classroom.
• Books from any reading list provided in class may be purchased separately.