Renaissance to Contemporary: Introduction to Western Art, 1400 - Present

An overview of painting, sculpture, print culture, and new media from 1400 to the present, this course is designed for students with no previous background, but can also provide a useful framework for students of all levels. The course offers a broad historical overview of the key movements and artists of the period, the materials and methods of art making, and an investigation into the crucial themes and contexts that mark visual art production after the Middle Ages. We will consider such themes as the changing role of the artist in society; the secularization of art; the influence of science and technology in art's making, content, and distribution; the social and political contexts of audience and patronage; and the rise of art criticism; among others.