School Resources: Art History



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School Resources: Art History

If cave drawings in southern France are any indication, Man has had the desire to create art since the dawn of time. This creative side of mankind has been responsible for some of the most profound and influential artistic, musical, and even social movements in history.

In order to fully understand the modern implications and intricacies of art, you have to have a grasp on what it has meant in history. Studying art history is one of the most creatively and intellectually rewarding experiences a student can ask for. The fact is, most people can look at something and deem it beautiful or not, but they have little understanding of what informed their decision. The thing in question, be it a painting, a sculpture, a building, anything, either exhibits or does not exhibit something that made another thing beautiful. The art history student, however, can look at a work of art and make an informed decision as to its aesthetic worth. Of course, there is still an element of subjectivity, of “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” but to the art enthusiast, being able to interpret a visual work is well worth the price of tuition (whether time, money, or both).

The art historian, though, is not simply a keeper of tradition, an encyclopedia within which can be found rehashed information, but is rather a vessel containing both past and future. The art historian possesses through his or her knowledge of the past a unique ability to influence and inspire the future of art by fostering an interest in the past.  Connecting with, for instance, works from the Italian Renaissance can cause a budding artist to consider what about that art caused him or her to be inspired, and include that message in a piece of his or her own.

While the art historian in years past would have had to visit each piece of art him or herself or buy extremely expensive books in order to see paintings in exhibits around the world, the Internet makes the art historian’s life, if not easier, less expensive. Of course the best way to appreciate a piece is by seeing it in person, but on the off chance that the student does not have enough money to fly to France or even to another state, the Internet is an invaluable resource.

So, what does the study of art entail? What will you have to do? The art history student studies artistic elements such as line, color, texture, value, and shape. It is something like studying the alphabet before writing words, and writing words before sentences. It is only through the complete comprehension of what comprises a work of art that the art historian can have any concept of the artistic worth of a piece. With this knowledge, the art historian compares and contrasts the work of different artists. The ways and varieties with which an artist can employ these fundamentals of visual art are endless, and as such the ways and varieties in which art can be interpreted are also endless.

Here are some links about the various artistic movements and periods throughout history. Through them you will find scholarly articles, general information, and even entirely digital collections of art, entirely free and not requiring plane tickets or gas money.

General Art

Ancient Art

Medieval Art

Renaissance and Baroque

Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Art

American Art

Modern and Contemporary Art

Asian Art

Photography

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