Catalog Course Descriptions
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Art History Courses
Undergraduate
Introduction to the content and principles of the visual arts. Approach varies with instructor. Limited to three attempts.
Introduces themes and imagery in art. Approaches and traditions to explore vary with the instructor. Limited to three attempts.
Introduces study, principle, and understanding of art of architecture. Approach varies with instructor; may be historical, geographical, technical, or thematic. Notes: Field trips required. Limited to three attempts.
This class will offer a chronological overview of the history of design in the 20th century, including industrial design, communication design, interior and landscape architecture, as well as corporate branding and new media from each period/major design movement. Topics discussed will include major design styles and movements, significant designers, manufacturers, and design-related companies, innovations in technology and material use, and the development of sales, marketing, and user-focused design. Limited to three attempts.
Major periods, monuments, and themes of Western art and architecture. Introduces Washington, D.C., museum collections and a historical framework for further study in art history. Covers prehistory, the ancient world, and the Middle Ages. Notes: Designed as a two-course sequence, but each part may be taken independently without prerequisite. Limited to three attempts.
Major periods, monuments, and themes of Western art and architecture. Introduces Washington, D.C., museum collections and a historical framework for further study in art history. Covers the art of the Renaissance, the baroque period, and modern Europe and the Americas. Notes: Designed as a two-course sequence, but each part may be taken independently without prerequisite. Limited to three attempts.
Introduces the arts of South, Southeast, and east Asia. Examines aspects of the culture and history of Asia. Discusses monuments and artifacts in a variety of media and their relation to social and historical contexts. Limited to three attempts.
Introduces arts of Latin America from pre-Columbian to modern era. Discusses important examples of painting, sculpture, and architecture in relation to culture and history of region. Limited to three attempts.
Introduces arts of Africa, from antiquity to the present day. Presents a variety of arts In relatlon to their historical and cultural contexts, and makes use of local museum resources. Limited to three attempts.
Studies traditions of art and architecture within a single selected country or historical region. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Explores problems in urban design in a particular geographical region or historical period. Approach varies with instructor and may involve archaeological or theoretical approaches appropriate to the specific context. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
This course covers the history of modern architecture in the Western world from the mid-19th century to the present. Introduces movements such as Art Nouveau, Futurism, Modernism, and Post-Modernism in their political, social, and cultural contexts. Limited to three attempts.
Investigates the art and archaeology of the people of ancient Nubia (modern Sudan), who became pharaohs of Ancient Egypt’s 25th Dynasty around 750 BCE. Discusses Nubian cultures in context of state formation, religious change, colonialism, and imperialism. Limited to three attempts.
Explores the art, architecture, and archaeology of ancient Egypt in its cultural and historic context. Besides the famous monuments, students will also examine the influence of ancient attitudes about cultural identity on the art of the period as well as the impact of ancient Egyptian art on ancient Greece and modern western culture. Limited to three attempts.
Aspects of the art, archaeology, and culture of ancient Near East and Bronze Age Mediterranean. Approach varies depending on instructor; emphasis may be on Mesopotamia, Iran, Egypt, Anatolia, the Levant, or the Aegean. Limited to three attempts.
Introduction to Islamic art, from the time of Muhammad to present. Cultural and regional approach, utilizing local museum collections. Limited to three attempts.
History of ancient Greek architecture, sculpture, and painting. Limited to three attempts.
History of Roman architecture, sculpture, and painting. Limited to three attempts.
Arts of the Hellenistic age within the context of history and culture of the period. Explores the powerful dynasties ruling wealthy empires; achievements in learning and literature housed in the Great Library at Alexandria; baroque sculpture adorning the Altar of Zeus at Pergamon; and Roman collectors of Greek art and antiques. Limited to three attempts.
Aspects of medieval art and culture in eastern Mediterranean world. Topics may include late antiquity, early Christianity, and the Byzantine empire and its neighbors. Designed to take advantage of unique local museum resources. Notes: Specific focus varies with instructor. Limited to three attempts.
Aspects of art and architecture in medieval Europe, from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Gothic period. Limited to three attempts.
Explores aspects of the art, architecture, and archeology of medieval England. Special emphasis may be placed on Cultural contexts and literary sources. Limited to three attempts.
Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Giotto, Ghiberti, Masaccio, and Botticelli. Limited to three attempts.
Studies in the art of France, Germany, and the Netherlands in the age of Van Eyck and Durer. Limited to three attempts.
Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian. Limited to three attempts.
This course studies Venetian society and culture through the visual arts. Venice was a center of maritime trade in the late medieval and early modern Europe. Situated on the northeast coast of Italy, Venice was a hub for merchants, pilgrims, diplomats, soldiers, and sailors traveling around the Mediterranean region. These encounters shaped Venice's rich visual and material culture, which integrated features from other parts of Italy, northern Europe, the Byzantine Empire, Ottoman Turkey, North Africa, and Classical Greece and Rome into a distinctive aesthetic. In this course, we will study the major monuments (e.g., the church of San Marco and the Ducal Palace) and the celebrated artists (e.g., the Bellini family, Titian, Palladio, and Tiepolo). We will also consider other media that are often left out of art history surveys but were equally important to Venetian art, including the city's famous glass production, luxury textile industry, print and publishing, and mosaics. Limited to three attempts.
Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Caravaggio, Bernini, Velazquez, and Poussin. Limited to three attempts.
Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. Limited to three attempts.
Development of photography from origins in France in the 19th century to the present. Limited to three attempts.
Movements from neoclassicism to symbolism discussed in relation to social, cultural, political, and technological changes in Europe. Limited to three attempts.
Study of major movements (fauvism, cubism, futurism, constructivism, surrealism, and expressionism) and important artists in 20th-century painting and sculpture. Focus may vary. Limited to three attempts.
Introduces students to high art (painting and sculpture) and popular material and visual cultural forms (prints, furniture, textiles) through a chronological and thematic survey of U.S. Art, 1600 to 1950. Explores changing roles of arts, artists, craftsmen; issues of gender, race, class; and formation of national identify through the arts. Lectures and discussion are featured. Limited to three attempts.
Studies in the history of American architecture or decorative arts in cultural context. Topics range from 17th century to 20th century, depending on instructor. Limited to three attempts.
Developments in visual culture and the changing status of art practitioners throughout these periods. Focus is either chronological (Colonial Period, Gilded Age) or thematic (19th-century genre scenes, the American landscape and national identity). Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Developments in 20th-century American visual culture across all media. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Explores visual art production since 1980, drawing on regional resources. Examines social, institutional, and political issues in recent art and its markets. Notes: Requires students to work collaboratively and make several field trips, including one Saturday bus trip to New York. Specific topics and assignments vary with the changing art season and instructor. Lecture, discussion. Limited to three attempts.
Explores the arts of Indigenous peoples in the areas that are today the United States and Canada, from the pre-contact era to the present. Arts are discussed in relation to their cultural, regional, and historical contexts. Limited to three attempts.
Major movements and important artists in 20th-century Latin American art discussed in relation to social, cultural, and political conditions in the region. Limited to three attempts.
History, culture, and arts of south Asia from earliest civilizations along the Indus River to onset of Western colonialism. Emphasizes role of material evidence in the creation of the South Asian history and how political, social, and religious developments affected the arts. Discusses monuments and artifacts in a variety of media in relation to historical contexts. Limited to three attempts.
Examines various cultural and artistic traditions of ancient Southeast Asia, from the earliest archaeological evidence to onset of colonialism. Lectures and discussions focus on material culture of the great civilizations that arose within borders of modern Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia. Limited to three attempts.
Explores the complex and dynamic history of China by examining ways in which social, religious, and political shifts have given rise to new and variant forms of material culture. Limited to three attempts.
Art and architecture of Japan, with particular attention to the ways political changes, religious movements, and social developments influenced and shaped those creations. Discusses monuments and artifacts in a variety of media in relation to social and historical contexts. Limited to three attempts.
Explores luxury arts and material culture of Eurasian trade routes between Mediterranean and China in historical, religious, and social contexts. Emphasizes cultural interactions in medieval Central Asia. Limited to three attempts.
Internship with a professional arts institution, organization, or individual in the Washington, D.C., area. Project to be arranged by student in consultation with faculty instructor and field supervisor. Notes: Strongly recommended for advanced art history students seeking exposure to professional work in visual arts. May be taken for 3 to 6 credits, or repeated for up to 6 credits. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Examines history, theory, practice, ethics, and current problems of collecting and displaying art and artifacts to the public. Emphasizes issues central to museums in Washington, D.C., or museums in other locations; focus varies with instructor. Limited to three attempts.
Study abroad. Course topics, content, and locations vary. Notes: A maximum of 6 credits may be applied to the major or minor with permission of the program. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
Topics vary. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
Historical investigation of theories, methods, and critiques involved in the discipline of art history. Approach or focus may vary with instructor. Limited to three attempts.
Studies a particular area of ancient art of the Mediterranean, Near East, or Middle East. Topics may be art form or medium, geographical area, theme, function, or context. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
Studies a single topic in medieval or Islamic art. May focus on a particular period, region, or medium, or may explore cultural interconnections within medieval Eurasian world. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
Studies a particular aspect of Renaissance or baroque art. Topics may be monographic, thematic, or concentrated on the art of a smaller time period or a particular area. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
Study of a particular topic in 20th century European art. Course may focus on a specific period, region, movement, medium, or theoretical issue, or explore cultural connections and transfer between regions. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
Studies a particular area of American art, focusing on a form, such as landscape or genre painting; theme, such as nationalism, regionalism, or iconography of the family; or movement, such as American modernism. Limited to three attempts.
Study of a particular topic in 20th-century Latin American art. Course may focus on a specific period, region, movement, medium, or theoretical issue, or explore cultural connections and transfer between regions. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
Study of a topic in contemporary art in a research seminar setting. Focus on particular theme, region, artist, or medium, or take a comparative approach. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Seminar-style discussions on a specific topic in Asian art. May focus on the art of a particular period, movement, reign, or region, as well as theoretical issues or works in a particular medium. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Intensive study of a particular artist, period, or theoretical problem to be conducted by an individual student in consultation with instructor. Limited to three attempts.
Intensive study of a particular artist, period, or theoretical problem to be conducted by an individual student in consultation with instructor. Limited to three attempts.
Linked individualized courses, usually given by same instructor. Involves directed readings. Notes: Students must have completed at least one course in the field, or with the professor, chosen for these honors courses. The 3 credits of readings should be taken before the 3 research credits, or they may be taken concurrently. Limited to three attempts.
Linked individualized courses, usually given by same instructor. Culminates in research paper related to subject of readings. Notes: Students must have completed at least one course in the field, or with the professor, chosen for these honors courses. The 3 credits of readings should be taken before the 3 research credits, or they may be taken concurrently. Limited to three attempts.
Conduct hands-on research with objects or other primary sources. Select particular artifacts or works of art and undertake original research, bringing objects from storage to publication to exhibition. Develop skills in material and visual analysis, critical reading, and academic writing. Focus is on VA/DC/MD libraries, archives, and storerooms. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
Seminar-style discussion on specific subjects in art history. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Studies traditions of art and architecture within a single selected country or historical region. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Explores problems in urban design in a particular geographical region or historical period. Approach varies with instructor and may involve archaeological or theoretical approaches appropriate to the specific context. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Aspects of art and architecture in medieval Europe, from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Gothic period. Limited to three attempts.
Developments in visual culture and the changing status of art practitioners throughout these periods. Focus is either chronological (Colonial Period, Gilded Age) or thematic (19th-century genre scenes, the American landscape and national identity). Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Developments in 20th-century American visual culture across all media. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Topics vary. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
Studies a particular area of ancient art of the Mediterranean, Near East, or Middle East. Topics may be art form or medium, geographical area, theme, function, or context. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
Studies a single topic in medieval or Islamic art. May focus on a particular period, region, or medium, or may explore cultural interconnections within medieval Eurasian world. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
Studies a particular aspect of Renaissance or baroque art. Topics may be monographic, thematic, or concentrated on the art of a smaller time period or a particular area. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
Study of a particular topic in 20th century European art. Course may focus on a specific period, region, movement, medium, or theoretical issue, or explore cultural connections and transfer between regions. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
Study of a particular topic in 20th-century Latin American art. Course may focus on a specific period, region, movement, medium, or theoretical issue, or explore cultural connections and transfer between regions. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
Study of a topic in contemporary art in a research seminar setting. Focus on particular theme, region, artist, or medium, or take a comparative approach. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Seminar-style discussions on a specific topic in Asian art. May focus on the art of a particular period, movement, reign, or region, as well as theoretical issues or works in a particular medium. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Seminar-style discussion on specific subjects in art history. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Graduate
Internship with a professional arts institution, organization, or individual in the Washington
, D.C., area. Project to be arranged by student in consultation with faculty instructor and field supervisor. Notes: Recommended for advanced art history students seeking exposure to professional work in visual arts. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Examines history, theory, practice, ethics, and current problems of collecting and displaying art and artifacts to the public. Emphasizes issues central to museums in Washington, D.C., or museums in other locations. Focus may vary with instructor. May not be repeated for credit.
Conduct hands-on research with objects or other primary sources. Select particular artifacts or works of art and undertake original research, bringing objects from storage to publication to exhibition. Produce sophisticated material and visual analysis, present original arguments based on independent research, apply and integrate contemporary theories of display and viewership, and produce refined, sophisticated academic writing. Focus is on VA/DC/MD libraries, archives, and storerooms. May be repeated when the topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Independent reading and research on specific project under direction of department member. Notes: Written report is required. May be repeated for credit. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
Topics vary. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
Investigates theories, methods, and research strategies in discipline of art history. Designed for first-semester students in art history MA program; foundation for further graduate-level work in the program. May not be repeated for credit.
Offers graduate-level survey in academic art history led by an instructor of record, with input from full Art History faculty. Participants review the current field through lectures, focused readings and group discussions with relevant faculty member. Participants may read in more depth in areas of special interest. Provides preparation for MA exams and professional preparation for teaching. May not be repeated for credit.
Introduction to traditions that have contributed to the field of material culture study. Examines a broad range of the material world from the past to the present. Surveys the field's historical roots and examines approaches to material culture scholarship. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 24 credits.
Designed to prepare students for comprehensive exams by integrating past work and filling gaps in expected knowledge before the exam. Notes: Taken in final semester of art history MA. May not be repeated for credit.
Research seminar on aspects of art history. Topics vary, but course entails extensive critical readings and discussion, development of bibliographies, and advanced-level research papers. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 15 credits.
Research and writing on approved thesis topic under direction of thesis committee. Notes: Students must register for a minimum of three credits in their first semester of 799 and maintain continuous enrollment in 799 while writing and submitting a thesis. A maximum of 3 credits of 799 may be applied to the MA in art history and a maximum of 6 credits to the MA in the history of decorative arts. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 24 credits.
Topics vary. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
Research seminar on aspects of art history. Topics vary, but course entails extensive critical readings and discussion, development of bibliographies, and advanced-level research papers. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 15 credits.
