ARTS1052: History of Art II

Abstract

This course offers a basic introduction to the history of European and American art from the Renaissance to the present. Designed to prepare students for advanced study of art history, it covers all major eras of Western art in this period, but it focuses only on selected artists and artworks. Throughout the semester, we will pay particular attention to one overarching question: how have artists since 1300 sought to represent the world? It will quickly become clear that these “modes of representation” have shifted over time and are largely contingent to the cultures that produced them. In order to make sense of this historical phenomenon, we will need to cover some of the basic methodological concerns of art history, including formal analysis, iconography, and contextualization. From day to day, short assignments and in-class discussions will help familiarize students with the basic tools and vocabulary of art history. Although History of Art I is strongly recommended, no previous experience with art history is required. By participating fully in the course, you will have acquired, by the end of the semester, the following knowledge and skills: · the ability to describe and analyze the formal elements of a work of art. · a basic understanding of art techniques and processes. · the ability to identify and make comparisons between important artists, art objects, and artistic styles of different periods and cultures. · a basic understanding of the production and reception of art objects. · a basic understanding of how art relates to its historical and cultural circumstances. · a basic understanding of the causes of historical change in art. · a basic understanding of different art historical approaches and methodologies.