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Main content
Start from the basics
Learn the basics, starting with A beginner's guide
Let's go
Start from the basics
Learn the basics, starting with A beginner's guide

Special topics in art history

ARCHES (At Risk Cultural Heritage Education Series): Special topics in art historyCreating & conserving : Special topics in art history

The Seeing America Project

About Seeing America: The Seeing America ProjectTheme: National Identity: The Seeing America ProjectTheme: Work, Exchange, and Technology: The Seeing America ProjectTheme: Geography and the Environment: The Seeing America ProjectTheme: Migration and Settlement: The Seeing America Project
Theme: Politics and Power: The Seeing America ProjectTheme: American and Regional Culture: The Seeing America ProjectTheme: Social Structures: The Seeing America ProjectTheme: America in the World: The Seeing America ProjectAmerican art in context: The Seeing America Project

Start here

Looking at art: Start hereApproaches to art history: Start hereTools for understanding museums: Start here
Tools for understanding religion in art: Start hereFor the very beginner: Start here

Prehistoric art

Paleolithic art: Prehistoric artNeolithic art: Prehistoric artTest your knowledge about prehistoric art: Prehistoric art

Ancient Mediterranean

A beginner's guide: Ancient MediterraneanAncient Near East: Ancient MediterraneanAncient Egypt: Ancient MediterraneanAncient Aegean: Ancient Mediterranean
Ancient Greece: Ancient MediterraneanNabataean: Ancient MediterraneanEtruscan: Ancient MediterraneanAncient Rome: Ancient MediterraneanPalmyra: Ancient Mediterranean

Medieval Europe + Byzantine

Beginner's guide to Medieval Europe: Medieval Europe + ByzantineJudaism and Christianity in art: 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 and Ottonian : Medieval Europe + ByzantineViking age: Medieval Europe + ByzantineRomanesque: Medieval Europe + ByzantineGothic: Medieval Europe + Byzantine

Art of the Islamic world

Beginner's guide: Art of the Islamic worldChronological periods: Art of the Islamic worldTest your knowledge: Art of the Islamic world

Europe 1300 - 1800

Printmaking in Europe: Europe 1300 - 1800Italy, 14th century: Europe 1300 - 1800Italy, 15th century: Europe 1300 - 1800Italy 16th century: Europe 1300 - 1800Northern Europe 15th century: Europe 1300 - 1800
Northern Europe 16th century: Europe 1300 - 1800Spain 15th–16th century: Europe 1300 - 1800Reformation and Counter-Reformation: Europe 1300 - 1800Baroque 17th century: Europe 1300 - 1800Rococo and Neoclassicism 18th century: Europe 1300 - 1800British art in the 18th century: Europe 1300 - 1800

Art of the Americas to World War I

Beginner guides 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

Europe 1800 - 1900

Introduction to 19th century art: Europe 1800 - 1900Romanticism: Europe 1800 - 1900Early photography: Europe 1800 - 1900
Victorian art and architecture: Europe 1800 - 1900Realism, Impressionism and Post-Impressionism: Europe 1800 - 1900Symbolism & Art Nouveau: Europe 1800 - 1900Russia: The Wanderers: Europe 1800 - 1900

Modernisms 1900-1980

A beginner's guide to 20th century art: Modernisms 1900-1980Fauvism and Expressionism: Modernisms 1900-1980Cubism and early abstraction: Modernisms 1900-1980Dada and Surrealism: Modernisms 1900-1980German art between the wars: Modernisms 1900-1980Latin American Modernism: Modernisms 1900-1980
American art to WWII: Modernisms 1900-1980Post-War American art: Modernisms 1900-1980Post-War European art: Modernisms 1900-1980Conceptual and performance art: Modernisms 1900-1980Post-Minimalism: Modernisms 1900-1980Global vanguards: Modernisms 1900-1980Architecture, design, and dance: Modernisms 1900-1980

Global cultures 1980 - now

Concepts in art: 1980 to now: Global cultures 1980 - now

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
Central Africa: Art of AfricaNorth Africa: Art of AfricaSouthern Africa: Art of Africa

Art of Oceania

Oceania: peoples and places: Art of Oceania

For teachers

For teachers: For teachersTeaching with images: For teachers

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