Short courses Global modernisms, 1900–1940 Explore modern art from across the globe. Modern art and reality By Dr. Charles Cramer, Dr. Kim Grant By observing nature more closely, absorbing new scientific theories and spiritual investigations, many modern artists sought higher truths. Learn more André Derain, The Dance By Dr. Charles Cramer, Dr. Kim Grant Derain used a liberated Fauve approach to color and form to depict female figures in an exotic setting. Learn more Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon By Dr. Beth Harris, Dr. Steven Zucker Picasso loved the magic of illusionism—but here, he shatters it. Learn more A new world after the Russian Revolution: Malevich’s Suprematist Composition: White on White By Dr. Beth Harris, Dr. Steven Zucker Malevich believed that artists, and art, could pave the way to a better future. But would they? Learn more Hannah Höch, Cut with the Kitchen Knife Dada Through the Last Weimar Beer Belly... By Dr. Karen Barber What initially might seem like random images is actually Hannah Höch’s comment on Weimar Germany’s culture and politics. Learn more The origins of modern art in São Paulo, an introduction By Dr. Adriana Zavala Beyond Europe, mapping the origins of Brazilian modernism. Learn more Diego Rivera, Man Controller of the Universe By Dr. Beth Harris, Dr. Steven Zucker Why was the original version of this mural at New York’s Rockefeller Center destroyed within months of its creation? Learn more Frida Kahlo, The Two Fridas (Las dos Fridas) By Dr. Doris Maria-Reina Bravo In her double self-portrait, Kahlo wears both European garb and the Indigenous clothing she grew to prefer. Learn more Wifredo Lam, The Jungle By Dr. Doris Maria-Reina Bravo This Cuban artist united European Surrealism with Afro-Caribbean culture. Learn more Geometric Abstraction in South America, an introduction By Dr. Gillian Sneed Latin American geometric abstraction united international principles of modernist abstraction with local cultural traditions, and led to more participatory forms of art. Learn more Joaquín Torres-García, Inverted America By Dr. Maya Jiménez Torres-García upended traditional hierarchical structures by defining the art of South America on its own terms. Learn more Uche Okeke By Dr. Perrin Lathrop Nigerian independence inspired artists to develop a new national and artistic identity based on “natural synthesis.” Learn more Alfred Stieglitz, The Steerage By Dr. Kris Belden-Adams Though this photograph could be seen as a searing social commentary, its maker preferred to view it as fine art. Learn more Jacob Lawrence, The Migration Series By Dr. Beth Harris, Dr. Steven Zucker Lawrence carefully documents the migration of African Americans from the agricultural South to the industrial North. Learn more Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Little Joe with Cow By Dr. Steven Zucker, Dr. Jennifer Padgett, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art A magical landscape Learn more Puebloan: Maria Martinez, Black-on-black ceramic vessel By Dr. Suzanne Newman Fricke Faced with mass production, Maria Martinez continued hand-making pottery as art rather than utilitarian vessels. Learn more Nampeyo (Hopi-Tewa), polychrome jar By Dr. David W. Penney, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Steven Zucker Nampeyo found inspiration from the old to create a pottery style that was entirely new and highly sought after. Learn more
Modern art and reality By Dr. Charles Cramer, Dr. Kim Grant By observing nature more closely, absorbing new scientific theories and spiritual investigations, many modern artists sought higher truths. Learn more
André Derain, The Dance By Dr. Charles Cramer, Dr. Kim Grant Derain used a liberated Fauve approach to color and form to depict female figures in an exotic setting. Learn more
Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon By Dr. Beth Harris, Dr. Steven Zucker Picasso loved the magic of illusionism—but here, he shatters it. Learn more
A new world after the Russian Revolution: Malevich’s Suprematist Composition: White on White By Dr. Beth Harris, Dr. Steven Zucker Malevich believed that artists, and art, could pave the way to a better future. But would they? Learn more
Hannah Höch, Cut with the Kitchen Knife Dada Through the Last Weimar Beer Belly... By Dr. Karen Barber What initially might seem like random images is actually Hannah Höch’s comment on Weimar Germany’s culture and politics. Learn more
The origins of modern art in São Paulo, an introduction By Dr. Adriana Zavala Beyond Europe, mapping the origins of Brazilian modernism. Learn more
Diego Rivera, Man Controller of the Universe By Dr. Beth Harris, Dr. Steven Zucker Why was the original version of this mural at New York’s Rockefeller Center destroyed within months of its creation? Learn more
Frida Kahlo, The Two Fridas (Las dos Fridas) By Dr. Doris Maria-Reina Bravo In her double self-portrait, Kahlo wears both European garb and the Indigenous clothing she grew to prefer. Learn more
Wifredo Lam, The Jungle By Dr. Doris Maria-Reina Bravo This Cuban artist united European Surrealism with Afro-Caribbean culture. Learn more
Geometric Abstraction in South America, an introduction By Dr. Gillian Sneed Latin American geometric abstraction united international principles of modernist abstraction with local cultural traditions, and led to more participatory forms of art. Learn more
Joaquín Torres-García, Inverted America By Dr. Maya Jiménez Torres-García upended traditional hierarchical structures by defining the art of South America on its own terms. Learn more
Uche Okeke By Dr. Perrin Lathrop Nigerian independence inspired artists to develop a new national and artistic identity based on “natural synthesis.” Learn more
Alfred Stieglitz, The Steerage By Dr. Kris Belden-Adams Though this photograph could be seen as a searing social commentary, its maker preferred to view it as fine art. Learn more
Jacob Lawrence, The Migration Series By Dr. Beth Harris, Dr. Steven Zucker Lawrence carefully documents the migration of African Americans from the agricultural South to the industrial North. Learn more
Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Little Joe with Cow By Dr. Steven Zucker, Dr. Jennifer Padgett, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art A magical landscape Learn more
Puebloan: Maria Martinez, Black-on-black ceramic vessel By Dr. Suzanne Newman Fricke Faced with mass production, Maria Martinez continued hand-making pottery as art rather than utilitarian vessels. Learn more
Nampeyo (Hopi-Tewa), polychrome jar By Dr. David W. Penney, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Steven Zucker Nampeyo found inspiration from the old to create a pottery style that was entirely new and highly sought after. Learn more