Approaches to art history

An introduction to art history

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Art history "is a way to see what people thought, felt, believed, did, and imagined, by looking at the material things – buildings, paintings, gardens, sculptures, images, cities, objects – and the worlds that they made." (Griselda Pollock)

The language of art history

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"Today we see the art of the past as nobody saw it before. We actually perceive it in a different way." (John Berger)

Methods of art history

Brief histories of art and culture

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"It is curious to note how fragile the memory is, even for the important times in one's life. This is, moreover, what explains the fortunate fantasy of history." (Marcel Duchamp)

Questions in art history

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What exactly do we mean by art, and what kind of history (or histories) should we explore?

Current issues in art history

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As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, familiarity with different cultures and facility with diversity are essential. Art history, as the story of exceptional artifacts from a broad range of cultures, has a role to play in developing these skills.