An introductory survey of Western art and its major monuments, artists, techniques, styles, and themes. This course, the second in a two-semester sequence, covers the art of the Renaissance through the twentieth century. The course aims to teach you to look closely at, think deeply about, and engage critically with key works of art that have shaped Western visual culture. We will consider the medium, formal characteristics, potential meanings, and cultural context of each work, as well as the various challenges it still offers the contemporary viewer. We will strengthen our capacities for attention and develop the skills of observation, description, and analysis necessary for demystifying and enlivening the art of the past as well as engaging with the variety of images we encounter every day. No prior background is necessary.
- Teacher: Young
- Teacher: Gillian Young