Main content

Special topics in art history

Seeing America (Art that brings American history to life) : Special topics in art historyARCHES (At Risk Cultural Heritage Education Series): Special topics in art historyCreating & conserving : Special topics in art history

Looking at art

Why art matters: Looking at artElements of art: Looking at artPrinciples of composition: Looking at art

Approaches to art history

An introduction to art history: Approaches to art historyThe language of art history: Approaches to art historyBrief histories of art and culture: Approaches to art history
Questions in art history: Approaches to art historyCurrent issues in art history: Approaches to art historyUnderstanding museums: Approaches to art historyFor the very beginner: Approaches to art history

Tools for understanding religion in art

Beginner's guide: Tools for understanding religion in artChristianity: Tools for understanding religion in artIslam: Tools for understanding religion in art
Hinduism: Tools for understanding religion in artBuddhism: Tools for understanding religion in artJudaism: Tools for understanding religion in art

Prehistoric art

Paleolithic art: Prehistoric artNeolithic art: Prehistoric artQuiz: prehistoric art: Prehistoric art

Ancient Mediterranean

Ancient Near East: Ancient MediterraneanAncient Egypt: Ancient MediterraneanAegean: Ancient MediterraneanAncient Greece: Ancient Mediterranean
Nabataean: Ancient MediterraneanEtruscan: Ancient MediterraneanAncient Rome: Ancient MediterraneanPalmyra: Ancient MediterraneanJudaism and art: Ancient Mediterranean

Medieval Europe + Byzantine

A beginner's guide to medieval Europe: Medieval Europe + ByzantineBooks and the dissemination of knowledge in medieval Europe: Medieval Europe + ByzantineEarly Christian: Medieval Europe + ByzantineByzantine: Medieval Europe + Byzantine
Early medieval: Medieval Europe + ByzantineCarolingian: Medieval Europe + ByzantineOttonian: Medieval Europe + ByzantineRomanesque: Medieval Europe + ByzantineGothic: Medieval Europe + Byzantine

Art of the Islamic world

A beginner's guide to the art of Islam: Art of the Islamic worldEarly period: Art of the Islamic worldMedieval period: Art of the Islamic world
Late period: Art of the Islamic worldArts of the Islamic world (quiz): Art of the Islamic world

Europe 1300-1600

Late Gothic art in Italy: Europe 1300-1600Renaissance in Italy: 1400s: Europe 1300-1600Renaissance and after in Italy: 1500s: Europe 1300-1600
Renaissance in Northern Europe: 1400s: Europe 1300-1600Renaissance and after in Northern Europe: 1500s: Europe 1300-1600Renaissance and after in Spain: Europe 1300-1600Reformation and Counter-Reformation: Europe 1300-1600

Baroque to Neoclassical art in Europe

Baroque art: Baroque to Neoclassical art in EuropeRococo: Baroque to Neoclassical art in EuropeNeo-Classicism: Baroque to Neoclassical art in Europe
British art in the 18th century: Baroque to Neoclassical art in Europe

Art of the Americas to World War I

A beginner's guide to the Art of the Americas: Art of the Americas to World War IN. America before European colonization: Art of the Americas to World War IS. America before European colonization: Art of the Americas to World War IColonial Latin America: Art of the Americas to World War I
Native American art after 1600: Art of the Americas to World War IBritish Colonies to the Early Republic: Art of the Americas to World War IArt of the United States: 1800s: Art of the Americas to World War ILatin America after independence: Art of the Americas to World War I

Art in 19th century Europe

Introduction—Becoming Modern: Art in 19th century EuropeRomanticism: Art in 19th century EuropeEarly photography: Art in 19th century Europe
Victorian art and architecture: Art in 19th century EuropeRealism, Impressionism and Post-Impressionism: Art in 19th century EuropeSymbolism & Art Nouveau : Art in 19th century EuropeRussia: The Wanderers: Art in 19th century Europe

Modernisms 1900-1980

A beginner's guide to 20th century art: Modernisms 1900-1980Fauvism and Expressionism: Modernisms 1900-1980Cubism and early abstraction: Modernisms 1900-1980World War I, Futurism and Dada: Modernisms 1900-1980Art between the wars: the avant-garde and the rise of totalitarianism: Modernisms 1900-1980Figuration & abstraction in post-war Europe: Modernisms 1900-1980
Art Brut: Modernisms 1900-1980Abstract Expressionism & the New York School: Modernisms 1900-1980American Postwar figurative art: Modernisms 1900-1980American postwar abstraction: Modernisms 1900-1980Pop: Modernisms 1900-1980Minimalism and Earthworks : Modernisms 1900-1980Architecture and design: Modernisms 1900-1980

Global contemporary art

A beginner's guide to contemporary art: Global contemporary artIdentity, the body & the subversion of Modernism: Global contemporary artConceptual and Performance art : Global contemporary art
Global modernisms in the 21st century: Global contemporary art

Art of Asia

A beginner's guide to Asian art and culture: Art of AsiaChina: Art of AsiaKorea: Art of Asia
Japan: Art of AsiaSouth Asia: Art of AsiaSoutheast Asia: Art of AsiaThe Himalayas: Art of Asia

Art of Africa

African art, an introduction: Art of AfricaEast Africa and the Horn of Africa: Art of AfricaWest Africa: Art of Africa
North Africa: Art of AfricaSouthern Africa: Art of AfricaCentral Africa: Art of Africa

Art of Oceania

Lapita Culture: Art of OceaniaPolynesia: Art of OceaniaMelanesia: Art of Oceania
Micronesia: Art of Oceania

For teachers

Course materials: For teachers

Staff picks

Visualizing Imperial Rome
Norman Rockwell, Rosie the Riveter
Johannes Vermeer, Girl with a Pearl Earring
Ancient Babylon: excavations, restorations and modern tourism
The Last Supper

A brief introduction to art history

Watch an introduction video7 minutes 57 seconds
We understand the history of humanity through art. From prehistoric depictions of bison to contemporary abstraction, artists have addressed their time and place in history and expressed universal truths for tens of thousands of years.
Start learning

A brief introduction to art history

We understand the history of humanity through art. From prehistoric depictions of bison to contemporary abstraction, artists have addressed their time and place in history and expressed universal truths for tens of thousands of years.
Start learning
Watch an introduction video7 minutes 57 seconds

Explore art from around the world

Sinan, Süleymaniye Mosque
Coatlicue
The David Vases
El Anatsui, Untitled
Mask (Buk), Torres Strait, Mabuiag Island

Favorites

Raphael, School of Athens
Constantin Brancusi, The Kiss
Last Judgement of Hunefer, from his tomb
Rembrandt, The Night Watch
Why is this art? Andy Warhol, Campbell's Soup Cans
Community questions