Art History Courses: Everything You Need To Know

Considering an Art History Course? 

It’s a great idea to consider doing one of the many art history courses if you want to learn more about art history. An art history course will provide with all the information you need to know about art history. The good news is there are tons of art history courses currently available. They offer good flexibility too, offering both part-time and full-time options, in person and online.  

What Is Art History?  

Art history, put simply, is the study of objects of art considered within their time period. Art historians analyse visual arts’ meaning at the time they were created. Some of the works analysed are paintings, sculptures and architecture. Art history does not involve simply listing all the art movements and placing them on a timeline. Another mission of art history is to establish authorial origins of artworks. In other words, discovering who created a particular artwork, when and for what reason. A major part of art history is iconography. It involves analysing the symbolism of works of art. For example, art historians identify the visual elements of a painting and interpret its meaning. Art historians are interested in what the works of art represented at the time they were created. It’s an excellent way to learn about civilizations of the past.  

Why Study Art History? 

The main reasons to study art history are that it helps you understand cultures and develop critical thinking. In other words, visual art recounts stories from our past, it gives us an account of past events. Art history enables us to look back and to understand just how our civilization has evolved over the centuries. It is a way to know ourselves better and develop our understanding of culture as a whole. Studying art history is not about memorizing dates, artists’ names or art movements. It is about analysing paintings, photographs, sculptures and much more. In order to support your analysis, you need to build rational and convincing arguments. As a result, you will develop your critical thinking.  

What Will I Learn? 

Each course varies depending on the course provider, however, there are some topics you can expect to explore in just about any art history course. Therefore, you can expect to be provided with an introduction to the history of art and an introduction to the practice of art history. In addition, you will learn how to look at works of art and analyse them. You will also learn various sources and methods to do this and study skills in art history. Also, you may have to complete an independent project as part of your course. Some courses may cover more than you read here. If you would like an exact list of modules, reach out to your course provider.  

Career Opportunities 

Upon completing your art history course, you can work as an art administrator, exhibition organiser, antiques dealer and art consultant. You can also work as an art gallery manager, a journalist, an art critic and archivist.  

If you’re serious about doing an art history course, check out courses near you in the Nightcourses.co.uk national course finder.