Art History (ARTH)

History and Art History

Students taking ARTH courses should expect to participate in field trips or assignments outside the classroom at area museums.

101 Introduction to the Visual Arts (3:3:0). Introduction to the content and principles of the visual arts. Approach varies with instructor.

102 Symbols and Stories in Art (3:3:0). Themes and imagery in art from early Greece to the modern era.

150 Freshman Seminar (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Freshman standing. Seminars focus on skills and methods of learning as well as subject matter as a way of introducing the discipline of art history. Topics will vary.

200, 201 Survey of Western Art (3:3:0). Major periods, monuments, and themes of Western art and architecture. Provides an introduction to the Washington, D.C., museum collections and a historical framework for further study in art history. Designed as a two-course sequence, but each part may be taken independently without prerequisite. ARTH 200 covers prehistory, the ancient world, and the Middle Ages; ARTH 201 covers the art of the Renaissance, the baroque period, and modern Europe and the Americas.

203 Survey of Asian Art (3:3:0). For non-Western credit. Introduction to the arts of south, southeast, and east Asia. An examination of aspects of the culture and history of Asia. Monuments and artifacts in a variety of media are discussed in relation to their social and historical contexts.

Each 300-level course is generally offered once every two years.

303 National Traditions (1-3:1-3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Study of the traditions of art and architecture within a single selected country or historical region. Topic varies. May be repeated for credit with different course content.

311 Design of Cities (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. 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. May be repeated when course content is different.

315 Modern Architecture (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Studies in modern architecture from the Beaux Arts movement to the present; an investigation of stylistic, structural, and/or theoretical innovations.

319 Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. For non-Western credit. Aspects of the art, archaeology, and culture of ancient Near East and Bronze Age Mediterranean. Approach varies; emphasis may be on Mesopotamia, Iran, Egypt, Anatolia, the Levant, or the Aegean, depending on instructor.

320 Art of the Islamic World (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. For non-Western credit. Introduction to Islamic art, from the time of Muhammad to the present day. Cultural and regional approach, taking advantage of local museum collections.

321 Greek Art and Archaeology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. History of ancient Greek architecture, sculpture, and painting.

322 Roman Art and Archaeology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. History of Roman architecture, sculpture, and painting.

324 From Alexander the Great to Cleopatra: The Hellenistic World (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. The arts of the Hellenistic age within the context of the history and culture of the period. Many aspects of the Hellenistic world are explored: the powerful dynasties ruling wealthy empires; the achievements in learning and literature housed in the Great Library at Alexandria; the baroque sculpture adorning the Altar of Zeus at Pergamon; and the Roman collectors of Greek art and antiques.

333 Early Christian and Byzantine Art (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Aspects of medieval art and culture in the 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. Specific focus varies with instructor.

334 Western Medieval Art (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Aspects of art and architecture in medieval Europe, from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Gothic period. Specific focus may vary with the instructor. May be repeated when course content is different.

340 Early Renaissance Art in Italy, 1300­1500 (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Giotto, Ghiberti, Masaccio, and Botticelli.

341 Northern Renaissance Art (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Studies in the art of France, Germany, and the Netherlands in the age of Van Eyck and Dürer.

342 High Renaissance Art in Italy, 1480­1570 (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian.

344 Baroque Art in Italy, France, and Spain, 1600­1750 (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Caravaggio, Bernini, Velazquez, and Poussin.

345 Northern Baroque Art, 1600­1750 (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, and Vermeer.

350 History of Photography (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Development of photography from origins in France in the 19th century to the present.

360 Nineteenth-Century European Art (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Movements from neoclassicism to symbolism discussed in relation to social, cultural, political, and technological changes in Europe.

362 Twentieth-Century European Art (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Study of major movements (fauvism, cubism, futurism, constructivism, surrealism, and expressionism) and important artists in 20th-century painting and sculpture. Focus may vary.

371 American Architecture and Material Culture (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Studies in the history of American architecture or decorative arts in cultural context. Topics range from the 17th century through the 20th century, depending on instructor.

372 Studies in 18th- and 19th-Century American Art (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Developments in visual culture and the changing status of art practitioners throughout these periods. Focus of the course is either chronological (the Colonial Period, the Gilded Age) or thematic (19th-century genre scenes, the American landscape and national identity, etc.). May be repeated once for credit with different topic. Lecture, discussion.

373 Studies in 20th-Century American Art (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Developments in 20th-century American visual culture across all media. Focus of the course may vary (postwar American "realisms," women artists/feminist art). May be repeated once for credit with different topic. Lecture, discussion.

374 Art Now (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Any course in art history or art studio or permission of instructor. A look at visual art production since 1980, drawing on regional resources. Examines the social, institutional, and political issues in recent art and its markets. 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 with the instructor. Lecture, discussion.

380 African Art (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. For non-Western credit. Art of sub-Saharan Africa in terms of styles and aesthetics, materials and techniques, and contexts (geographical, social, cultural, and religious). Specific focus may vary with the instructor.

382 Arts of India (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. For non-Western credit. The history, culture, and arts of south Asia from the earliest civilizations along the Indus River to the onset of Western colonialism. Emphasis is placed on the role that the material evidence has provided in the creation of the south Asian history and the ways political, social, and religious developments affected the arts. Monuments and artifacts in a variety of media are discussed in relation to their historical contexts.

383 Arts of Southeast Asia (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. For non-Western credit. Examination of the various cultural and artistic traditions of ancient Southeast Asia, from the earliest archaeological evidence to the onset of colonialism. Lectures and discussions focus on the material culture of the great civilizations that arose within the borders of modern Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia.

384 Arts of China (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. For non-Western credit. Explores the complex and dynamic history of China by examining the ways in which social, religious, and political shifts have given rise to new and variant forms of material culture.

385 Arts of Japan (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. For non-Western credit. The art and architecture of Japan, with particular attention to the ways in which political changes, religious movements, and social developments influenced and shaped those creations. Monuments and artifacts in a variety of media are discussed in relation to their social and historical contexts.

393 Art History Internships (3-6:0:0). Prerequisite: Art history major or minor and permission of instructor. 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. Strongly recommended for advanced art history students seeking exposure to professional work in the visual arts. May be taken for 3 to 6 credits or repeated for up to 6 credits.

394 The Museum (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 24 credits. Examination of the history, theory, practice, ethics, and current problems of collecting and displaying art and artifacts to the public. Emphasis on issues central to museums in Washington, D.C., or museums in other locations; focus varies with instructor.

399 Special Topics in the History of Art (3:3:0). Topics vary.

At least one 400- or 500-level course is offered each semester; each topic area is generally offered every two years.

400 Historiography and Methods of Research in Art History (3:3:0). Prerequisites: ENGL 302 and 6 credits in art history at the 300 level or permission of instructor. Historical investigation of theories, methods, and critiques involved in the discipline of art history. Approach or focus may vary with instructor. May be repeated for credit.

420 Advanced Studies in Ancient Art (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENGL 302 and 300-level course in ancient art or permission of instructor. Study in a particular area of ancient art of the Mediterranean, the Near East, or the Middle East. Topics may be an art form or medium, a geographical area, a theme, a function, or a context. May be repeated for credit.

430 Advanced Studies in Medieval or Islamic Art (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENGL 302 and a 300-level course in medieval art or permission of instructor. Study of a single topic in medieval or Islamic art. May focus on a particular period, region, or medium, or may explore cultural interconnections within the medieval Eurasian world. May be repeated for credit.

440 Advanced Studies in Renaissance and Baroque Art (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENGL 302 and 300-level course in Renaissance or baroque art or permission of instructor. Study in 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. May be repeated for credit.

471 Advanced Studies in American Art (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENGL 302 and 300-level course in American art. Study in a particular area of American art, focusing on a form (landscape or genre painting), a theme (nationalism, regionalism, the iconography of the family), or a movement (American modernism). May be repeated for credit.

482 Advanced Studies in Asian Art (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENGL 302 and 300-level course in any area of Asian art or permission of instructor. For non-Western credit. Seminar-style discussions on a specific topic in Asian art. Course may focus on the art of a particular period, movement, reign, or region, as well as theoretical issues or works in a particular medium. Because the content varies, course may be repeated for credit.

490, 491 Independent Study in Art History (3:0:0), (3:0:0). Prerequisites: 60 credits, ENGL 302, permission of instructor and chair, plus 9 credits in art history beyond ARTH 200, 201. Intensive study of a particular artist, period, or theoretical problem to be conducted by an individual student in consultation with instructor. Study proposal submitted before registration.

492, 493 Honors Directed Readings, Honors Directed Research (3:3:0), (3:3:0). Prerequisites: Admission to the art history honors program, ENGL 302, and permission of instructor. These are linked individualized courses, normally given by the same instructor. ARTH 492 involves directed readings, and ARTH 493 culminates in a research paper related to the subject of the readings. 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 normally be taken before the 3 credits of research; however, they may be taken concurrently.

593 Art History Internships (3-6:0:0). Prerequisite: Baccalaureate degree or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Internship with a professional arts institution, organization, or individual in the Washington, D.C., area. Project to be arranged by the student in consultation with faculty instructor and field supervisor. Recommended for advanced art history students seeking exposure to professional work in the visual arts. May be taken for 3 to 6 credits or repeated for up to 6 credits.

594 The Museum (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Baccalaureate degree or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Examination of the history, theory, practice, ethics, and current problems of collecting and displaying art and artifacts to the public. Emphasis on issues central to museums in Washington, D.C., or museums in other locations. Specific focus may vary with instructor.

596 Independent Study (1-3:0:0). Prerequisite: Baccalaureate degree or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Independent reading and research on a specific project under the direction of a department member. Written report is required. May be repeated for credit.

599 Special Topics in the History of Art (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Baccalaureate degree or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Topics vary.

699 Topics in Art History (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Graduate standing. 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.