Course Description
The rise and development of naturalism in mid-nineteenth-century art in Europe.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be expected to produce an extensive
research paper on specific works or issues related to the field
and the methodologies appropriate to the topic under
consideration in the course. This paper will be a detailed,
in-depth consideration of the student's chosen theme requiring
not only a demonstration of advanced research skills (including
the ability to read and use material presented in foreign
languages), but also an articulation of the student's ability to
understand and manipulate the critical apparatus of art history
in connection with Realism and Impressionism.
Athena Title
REAL IMPRESSIONISM
Prerequisite
Two ARHI 3000-level courses and permission of major
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course introduces and explores the principal artistic movements and stylistic trends in Europe from 1830 to 1880, with an emphasis on French Realism and Impressionism. Works of art are examined through their forms and techniques, historical circumstances, and critical reception. Although the name Realism suggests that this artistic movement or style had a close relationship to the "real," students will analyze its images as representations, not as equivalents for "reality." In similar manner, the old myth that the Impressionists painted only what they saw in front of them will be challenged, and the broader historical and cultural context will be brought to bear to illuminate their aesthetic decisions and innovations. The goal is to develop critical skills in looking at and reading, thinking, and writing about paintings, sculptures, and prints as visual images and cultural products. Students will be asked to apply factual information and interpretive skills to works, concepts, and texts on exams and papers.
Topical Outline
The course begins with an overview of the institutional structure and training that young artists encountered as they worked to become professionals, and addresses the aesthetic, economic, and cultural forces behind the development of plein-air painting (painting out of doors) that culminated in the Impressionist technique. Special emphasis will be given to Paris as the art capital of the West as well as a principal subject of modern art. Other issues include the situation of women artists, the development of artists' organizations and societies, and the various strategies of the art market to promote contemporary art. Visits to area art collections or temporary exhibitions will be made whenever possible so that students may study original works of art.