We believe art has the power to transform lives and to build understanding across cultures. The brilliant histories of art belong to everyone, no matter their background.
With 503 contributors from 201 colleges, universities, museums, and research centers, Smarthistory is the most-visited art history resource in the world.
We created Smarthistory to provide students around the world with the highest-quality educational resources for art and cultural heritage—for free.
Foundational concepts in understanding art history
Art allows us to see through the eyes of others—so we see the world as we have never seen it before. Learn to look and describe what you see.
In our visual world, studying art's history couldn't be more important.
Millions visit museums every year. Why do we do it?
For millennia, images have acted as a bridge to the invisible and the transcendent.
Your donations help make art history free and accessible to everyone!
