ART 317: Nineteenth-Century Art in Europe & the United States

Nineteenth-century art in Europe and the United States marks a shift towards what today is recognized as "modernity" in art and society. At the same time, historicist, academic, and period-specific trends were crucially important aspects of visual culture. This class focuses on the dual tendencies of tradition and progress that define the nineteenth century through a survey of its artistic, visual, and material culture. The discussion of specific artistic trends will be framed by an examination of the social and political climate in which they were created.