Courses in Art History

This course surveys Western art and architecture from the Paleolithic era to the end of the Middle Ages. Training in visual analysis is emphasized, as are the historical context, religious beliefs and social conditions in which the artwork was produced. This is primarily a lecture class, though discussion is encouraged. Requirements include examinations and short papers. This counts toward the 100-level course requirement for the major. No prerequisite. Offered every semester.

This course surveys Western art and architecture from the Renaissance to the present. Framing the study of art history within a social context, this course provides students with the tools for understanding style and interpreting meaning in individual works of art. Although this is a lecture format, discussion is encouraged. This counts toward the 100-level course requirement and Europe and Americas place requirements for the major. No prerequisite. Offered every semester.

This course introduces students to the study of the practical and theoretical principles governing architecture. Architectural traditions from the ancient through the contemporary period will be considered. This counts toward the 100-level course requirement for the major. No prerequisite.

This course introduces students to the visual, material and architectural heritage of Asia. It is not intended as a survey or comprehensive study of all the arts of Asia. As an introduction to the discipline of art history, this course aims to teach students how to analyze images, objects and the built environment through their formal and visual qualities, their material characteristics and how they structure — and are structured by — the space around them. We consider how objects and spaces functioned within their respective cultural, religious and political contexts. This counts toward the 100-level course requirement and Asia place requirements for the major. No prerequisite.

This introductory course surveys the history of Islamic art and architecture between the 7th and 16th centuries. Students explore the rich visual and artistic traditions that developed and thrived under the caliphates and dynasties that ruled medieval Spain, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. They will investigate thematic issues central to the discipline of Islamic art history, including the function of ornament, the development of calligraphy in visual culture, the adoption and abstention of figural representation, and the impact of Orientalism. A diverse array of artistic media and techniques is examined, including painting, sculpture, textiles, manuscripts and architecture. Students also are introduced to art-historical research strategies, and methods for writing about art. This counts toward the 100-level course requirement, Africa and Middle East place and 600-1800 time requirements for the major. No prerequisite.

This course explores the diversity of African art created on the continent and throughout the diaspora, from antiquity to the contemporary period. Students examine artworks from both north and south of the Sahara representing an array of media and techniques, including sculpture, architecture, painting, photography, textiles and performance art. Class sessions combine lecture and discussion to investigate key topics such as the significance of visual abstraction; art’s role in constructing (and contesting) ideas about the body, gender and sexuality; and the relationship between art and politics in the colonial and postcolonial periods. Ongoing debates about the problematic categories of “tribal” and “tourist” art in Africa, as well as “primitivism” in the West, are examined in relation to questions of authenticity and appropriation. We will also critically evaluate the political and aesthetic contexts in which African art has been exhibited in museums. Students are introduced to methods of art historical analysis and writing. This counts toward the 100-level course requirement and Africa and Middle East place requirements for the major. No prerequisite.

This course examines the art and architecture of Greece from Bronze Age Crete and Mycenaean palaces of the mainland to the historical age of Greece and the extended Greek cultures of southern Italy and the Hellenistic world. Special attention will be given to the development of Greek standards of beauty and the role of beauty in Greek culture. The format is lecture and discussion. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the before 600 CE time requirements for the major. Offered every other year. Any art history or classics course is recommended.

This course examines the art and architecture of Rome from its Etruscan and Latin origins through the decline of the Roman Empire. As Rome grew from a city to a world empire, Romans employed the arts in a wide variety of contexts, ranging from the domestic and funereal to the political and imperial, with art and architecture often used in the service of ritual or propaganda. The format is lecture and discussion. This counts toward the Europe and America place and the before 600 CE time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: any art history course or CLAS 121, 122, 220 or 221. Offered every other year.

This course examines Netherlandish, French and German arts of the 15th and 16th centuries, including artists such as the Limbourg brothers, Jan Van Eyck and Albrecht Dürer. During lectures and class discussions, students examine the visual arts of this period in relation to political power, religious upheaval, social class, gender and sexuality, and international trade. Specific topics include the transmission of style, the development of oil painting, the revolutionary expansion of the graphic arts and the impact of the Reformation. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the 600-1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: any 100-level ARHS course.

This course investigates the beginnings of Italian Renaissance art from the profound changes of the late 13th century through the 15th century. Artists and architects such as Giotto, Donatello, Masaccio, Alberti and Botticelli are examined in relation to social, religious and political issues during lectures and class discussions. Specific topics include the exploration of illusionistic perspectives, the economics of art patronage, the social elevation of the artist, and the roles of art and architecture as defenses against plague. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the 600-1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: any 100-level ARHS course.

This course focuses on the art and architecture of 16th-century Italy, a period often associated with both "High Renaissance" and "Mannerist" art. We examine these stylistic categories and attend to the works of influential artists and architects such as Leonardo, Bramante, Titian, Sofonisba Anguissola, Michelangelo and Cellini, among others. Issues such as patronage, politics, sexuality and cultural exchange are examined in lectures and class discussions to shed light on the varied artistic production of this period. These topics are considered in relation to the century's broader historical developments, notably the Reformation and expansion of European imperialism, using a variety of art historical and interdisciplinary methods. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the 600-1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: any 100-level ARHS course.

This course focuses on the art, architecture and visual culture of the 17th century, starting in Rome and spreading outward to other parts of Europe and the early modern world. Lecture and class discussion analyze the innovations of artists such as Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, Artemisia Gentileschi, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Peter Paul Rubens, Judith Leyster and Nicolas Poussin, among many others. We also explore Baroque art in relation to the Catholic Reformation and expansion of Protestantism, European imperialism, the politics of absolute rule and revolution, the economics of art markets and cultural exchange, and aesthetic judgments about art. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the 600-1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: any 100-level ARHS course.

This course is the same as AMST 227D. This course must be taken as ARHS 227D to count towards the fine arts diversification requirement. This course addresses art produced in North America between colonialization and 1900. Students examine the development of art within a broad social context by exploring the relationship between visual culture and race, gender and class. Specific topics include genre and landscape painting, prints and photography, and the influence of European art academies. We also address the relationship between art and slavery, war and industrialization. This counts towards the Europe and Americas place and the after 1800 time requirements for the art history major. Prerequisite: ARHS 111 or AMST 108.

This course surveys the history of photography from the medium's invention in the 1830s to the present. Key issues include the way photography functions as documentary evidence, demonstrates technological innovation, and is used as a means for artistic creativity. The role of digital imagery, social media and the internet also is addressed. Through lectures, critical readings, class presentations and discussions, students develop a comprehensive understanding of the history of the medium within specific historical and cultural contexts. Emphasis is given to the social history of photography in an international context. This counts toward the after 1800 time requirement for the major. Prerequisite: ARHS 111.

This course examines the visual representation of race between the early modern era and the present. We consider how factors including indigenous material culture, slavery, immigration, migration, war and political activism have shaped visual culture and modern art. In addition to traditional forms of fine art, such as painting, sculpture, photography and prints, students also consider cartoons, advertising, film and other forms of mass media. We also address the relationship between race and museums, monuments and memorials. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the after 1800 time requirement for the major. Prerequisite: ARHS 111 or AMST 108.

This course focuses on the evolution of modernism as an artistic practice and the emergence of the avant-garde as a social and political formation in Europe between 1880 and 1945. Among the themes to be considered are the relationship between art and technology, the cultural implications of "primitivism" and the significance of abstract and nonrepresentational art to modern expression. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the after 1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: ARHS 111.

Beginning with abstract expressionism, this course critically addresses the development of high modernism in New York after World War II. Students analyze the importance of American art criticism during the 1950s before tracing the resistance to associated ideologies as seen in the global emergence of pop art, minimalism, conceptual art and feminist art. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the after 1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: ARHS 111.

This course concerns the arts of medieval Europe from the fourth to the 10th centuries. The class learns about the major forms of architecture, sculpture, painting and the decorative arts of the Middle Ages. Style and iconography are considered within the cultural context of large societal movements, including monastic reform and pilgrimage. The secondary focus is on information literacy and how to develop and write a research paper. The class format consists of lecture, discussion, debate and presentations. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the 600-1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: any 100-level ARHS course.

This course explores the art and architecture of the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantium, from the founding of its capital, Constantinople, in 330 to the fall of the city in 1453. Following a chronological approach, the course introduces students to the continuation and adaptation of long-established Roman ceremonial, iconographic and architectural forms to serve a new, specifically Christian empire. Students trace the transmission of artistic ideas, forms and objects across cultural, geographic and religious borders, and examine the ways in which trade, war and diplomacy impacted Byzantine art. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the 600-1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: any 100- or 200-level ARHS course.

This course concerns the arts of medieval Europe from the fourth to the 10th centuries. The class learns about the major forms of architecture, sculpture, painting and the decorative arts of the Middle Ages. Style and iconography are considered within the cultural context of large societal movements, including monastic reform and pilgrimage. The secondary focus is on information literacy and how to develop and write a research paper. The class format consists of lecture, discussion, debate and presentations. This counts toward the Europe and the Americas and the 600-1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: any 100-level ARHS course.

What does "made in China" mean to you? Come discover the broad range of the arts of China from the Paleolithic period (4000 B.C.E.) to the present moment. The class learns about the rich traditions of ceramics, jade, bronzes, lacquer, painting, calligraphy, sculpture, textiles and the built environment within their cultural context. We consider how the visual and material arts expressed ideas about politics, class, gender and religion across Chinese history, while also asking, "What makes an artwork 'Chinese?'" This counts toward the 200-level intermediate course requirements and the Asia place requirement for the major. Prerequisite: any 100-level ARHS course. Permission of instructor required.

This course explores the arts of medieval northern Europe from the mid-13th through the early 16th centuries. The class learns about the rich traditions of architecture, sculpture, painting and the decorative arts from the Late Gothic period. Style and iconography are considered within the cultural context of large societal movements, including literacy, pilgrimage and chivalry. The class format consists of lecture, discussion, debate and class presentations. The secondary focus is on information literacy and how to develop and write a research paper. This counts toward the Europe and the Americas place and the 600-1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: any 100-level ARHS course.

At the time when China faced its largest challenge in history in terms of sovereignty, dignity and culture, its art experienced importation of Western forms and aesthetics. The two artistic traditions clashed, coexisted and were integrated. Chinese artists then attempted to infuse their art with the cultural identity of China. To understand the artistic impact of the West and China's reaction to it, we will investigate this journey from its beginning, the Opium Wars to 1949, when China moved forward from a feudal empire to a republican nation in a turbulent century. This counts toward the 200-level intermediate course requirement, the Asia place and the after 1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: ARHS 111 or 114.

The year 1949 was a watershed moment in 20th-century Chinese art, with the founding of the People's Republic of China. Art, therefore, experienced dramatic changes from the 1950s to the present. In this course, we investigate the journey from ideologically oriented art to the art of the Cultural Revolution, and from the post-Mao period and the avant-garde movement to art in an era of urbanization in a global context. This counts toward the 200-level intermediate course requirement, the Asia place and the after 1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: ARHS 111 or 114.

China has a painting tradition that spans thousands of years, using mainly brush and ink on silk or paper. As different subject matter (mountains and waters, flowers and birds, and human figures) and techniques (ink, color and brushwork based in conjunction with calligraphy) developed, the artists’ practice was guided by underlying aesthetics. Starting in the Tang Dynasty, landscape painting went from a mere backdrop to an independent subject, reaching a height of realistic detail in the Song Dynasty. Literati painting was established in the Yuan Dynasty as a protest, but it would form the mainstream of painting in the Ming Dynasty, ultimately becoming orthodoxy in the Qing Dynasty, during which eccentric artists tried to both break and yet revive the older tradition. This course investigates the history, cultural connotations and significance of Chinese painting in the landscape of world art. This counts toward the 200-level intermediate course requirement and the Asia place requirement for the major. Prerequisite: ARHS 111 or 114.

This course is offered on the Kenyon-Rome program. This course provides an overview of the history, culture and art of Rome from antiquity to the 18th century, with some forays into modern Rome. Classroom instruction complements visits to different sites in the city of Rome and its environs, Florence, Naples and Pompeii. Guest lectures focus on specific issues in ancient, medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and modern art and architecture in Rome. We examine the formation of great art collections like those of the Borghese Gallery, the Vatican Museums and the Capitoline collections. Students are expected to write about art from all historical epochs. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place requirement for the major. No prerequisite. Permission of instructor required.

Beginning with Postmodernism, this course examines the primary themes of the expanding contemporary art scene since the late 20th century. Issues and movements addressed include installation art, neo-Expressionism, graffiti art, conceptual art and theory, performance and video art, the AIDS crisis and identity politics, and the globalized art market. The relationship between art and social issues is emphasized. As we address a fairly short period of time, this course combines a chronological and thematic approach. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the after 1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: ARHS 111.

This lecture and discussion course introduces students to the visual arts, material culture and built environment of Japan, from antiquity to the present day. While we certainly cover Hokusai’s "Great Wave," we also consider how this most recognizable representative of Japanese art might be less quintessentially Japanese than it initially seems. We consider how the arts of Japan are distinct from, yet also connected to, the larger Sinosphere; challenge the notion of an isolated, homogenous Japan; and, finally, consider the global transmission of Japanese art. This counts toward the 200-level intermediate requirement and the Asia place requirement for the major. Prerequisite: any 100-level ARHS class. Permission of instructor required.

This course examines the visual arts of Africa and the African diaspora from the early modern period to the present using historical and theoretical frameworks of mobility, exchange and circulation. During lectures and class discussions, students examine a wide variety of art from this period that was made to be -- or has become -- mobile in a number of ways. We analyze arts meant to be worn on the body such as clothing, textiles, masks and jewelry. The role of photography, film and other new media in circulating information about these wearable arts also is considered. Additional subjects include objects and spaces influenced by or created for international exchange; the art and visual culture of the Black Atlantic; contemporary performance art by artists working on the continent or in the diaspora; the history of collecting and selling African art; and current debates about restitution and repatriation. This counts toward the Africa and the Middle East place requirement for the major. Prerequisite: ARHS 116.

This seminar serves as an introduction to the field of museum studies. Consisting primarily of readings, discussions, assigned papers and special projects, the course historicizes the role of the museum, analyzes the nature of the museum audience and studies the representation and display of different cultures. Prerequisite: any 100-level ARHS course.

This seminar explores topics and issues relating to the history of ancient art and architecture. Assignments include seminar reports, class discussion and a research paper. This course can be repeated up to two times for credit, so long as each covers different topics. This counts toward the advanced course, Europe and the Americas place and the before 600 C.E. time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: any course in art history or classics. Sophomore standing.

This advanced seminar explores topics and issues of the study of medieval art and architecture. Topics covered include sacred and secular art in the late Middle Ages, pilgrimage art and the art in late medieval and Tudor England. Assignments include seminar reports, class discussion and a research paper. This counts toward the Europe and the Americas place requirement and the 600-1800 time requirement for the major. Any course in art history is recommended. No prerequisite. Sophomore standing.

Various topics in the history of early modern art between the late 13th and 18th centuries are explored in a seminar format. Each seminar provides a forum for the in-depth study of the methods of art historical research. Discussion of weekly readings, classroom presentations and research papers are required. This counts toward the Europe and the Americas place and the 600-1800 time requirements for the major. This course can be repeated up to two times for credit, so long as each covers different topics.

This advanced seminar explores topics and issues relating to the study of art and architecture of Asia. Students are expected to lead class discussions, participate thoughtfully, write weekly responses and complete a final research paper with oral presentation. It may be repeated up to two times for credit, as long as different topics are covered. This counts toward the 300-level advanced course requirement and the Asia place requirement for the major. Prerequisite: any art history class focused on Asia (ARHS 114, 235, 236, 238, 239 or 240). Permission of instructor required.

This seminar probes specific problems in modern European and contemporary art. Focusing upon a theme, artist or movement, the course provides a forum for the in-depth study of the methods of art historical research. Discussion of weekly readings, classroom presentations and research papers is required. This counts toward the after 1800 time requirement for the major. This course can be repeated up to two times for credit, so long as each covers different topics. Prerequisite: ARHS 111.

This course is the same as AMST 378D. This must be taken as ARHS 378D to count towards the fine arts diversification requirement. This course explores specific problems in American art and architecture. Topics include Modernism and the Great Depression, World War II and Abstract Expressionism, and the relationship between art and politics, broadly speaking. When possible, students utilize regional museum collections. Assignments include seminar reports, class discussion and a research paper. This counts toward the Europe and the Americas place and the after 1800 time requirements for the major. This course can be repeated up to two times for credit, so long as each covers different topics. Prerequisite: ARHS 111, 227D, AMST 109 or equivalent.

Required of all senior majors and recommended for senior minors, this course serves as a capstone to the study of art history. Students study the foundations of the discipline, explore the variety of methodological approaches employed by art historians, and assess current theoretical issues in the field. Senior standing. Offered every fall semester.

Normally, students may enroll in an individual study only if they have taken all the courses offered by the department in that particular area of the curriculum. Exceptions to this rule are at the discretion of the instructor with the support of the department. Individual study is considered an advanced course and, as such, the work produced should be the equivalent of a seminar or high-level intermediate class. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in art history courses is required. Exceptions to this rule are at the discretion of the instructor with the consent of the department. The professor and the student should establish and agree on the extent and nature of the work required for the individual study. This may take several forms: several short papers, one long paper, one in-depth project (small exhibition or assisting in doing research for an exhibition), a large (and lengthy) generalized outline and annotated bibliography, public presentations and so on. The student and the professor should meet on a regular basis. The frequency is to be determined by the professor in consultation with the student. Students must seek the permission of the instructor before enrolling. Individual study is undertaken at the discretion of the instructor and must be approved by the department. Because students must enroll for individual studies by the end of the seventh class day of each semester, they should begin discussion of the proposed individual study by the semester before, so that there is time to devise the proposal and seek departmental approval before the deadline.

Honors is for students with demonstrated ability to work on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member. Students undertaking an honors thesis must have had at least one (and preferably two) intermediate or advanced courses at Kenyon in the topic area. Endorsement of the project by the proposed thesis advisor is mandatory before submitting an application for honors. Previous completion of a research paper in art history (preferably in the area of honors specialization) is essential. Meeting the minimum GPA does not automatically qualify a student for honors. Typically, if a student has written an exceptionally well-researched and well-written art history paper, and meets the other criteria for acceptance into honors, a professor might suggest that the student undertake a related topic as an honors thesis. Alternately, students can discuss pursuing an honors thesis with their academic advisor and a potential thesis advisor. The project must be supervised by an art history professor who agrees and is available to serve as the honors thesis advisor and whose interests and expertise coincide with the proposed project. In either case, the student then works closely with the thesis advisor to develop a project proposal to be submitted to the art history faculty. Departmental approval must be obtained during the spring semester preceding work on the thesis. A minimum 3.33 cumulative grade-point average and a minimum 3.5 GPA in the major are required. Permission of instructor and department chair are required.

Honors is for students with demonstrated ability to work on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member. Students undertaking an honors thesis must have had at least one (and preferably two) intermediate or advanced courses at Kenyon in the topic area. Endorsement of the project by the proposed thesis advisor is mandatory before submitting an application for honors. Previous completion of a research paper in art history (preferably in the area of honors specialization) is essential. Meeting the minimum GPA does not automatically qualify a student for honors. Typically, if a student has written an exceptionally well-researched and well-written art history paper, and meets the other criteria for acceptance into honors, a professor might suggest that the student undertake a related topic as an honors thesis. Alternately, students can discuss pursuing an honors thesis with their academic advisor and a potential thesis advisor. The project must be supervised by an art history professor who agrees and is available to serve as the honors thesis advisor and whose interests and expertise coincide with the proposed project. In either case, the student then works closely with the thesis advisor to develop a project proposal to be submitted to the art history faculty. Departmental approval must be obtained during the spring semester preceding work on the thesis. A minimum 3.33 cumulative grade-point average and a minimum 3.5 GPA in the major are required. Permission of instructor and department chair are required.