Art History

Explore the visual world in the oldest and one of the most prestigious Art History departments in the country.

Our courses span the globe and different historical periods — from ancient Rome, Islamic cultures, medieval Paris and Renaissance Italy, to Indian cinema, American painting, contemporary photography and modern architecture. In studying art history, you will learn to appreciate works of art and architecture in their historical and cultural settings. We seek to provide the language necessary to analyze and interpret objects, images, as well as built and landscaped environments, so that students may develop a critical voice and a sophisticated vocabulary for examining and evaluating all aspects of the visual world.

We believe in civil discourse and respect for diversity of identity, race, religion, and experience, as well as diversity of thought, orientation, and viewpoint. We remain committed to engaged and lively conversation about the nature of art historical inquiry and the range of understandings it generates about the art of the past and present. We teach you to develop a disciplined, inquiring outlook that demands evidence and reflects thoughtful deliberation about differing perspectives.