For the intellectually curious among my readers, discover five subject areas (besides art history) you can study to help you better understand art and architecture.
Category: Art History
Art History Skills: Subject Matter Analysis
In this video, a deleted scene from an early version of Art Appreciation for Beginners, I demonstrate one facet of art historical analysis by discussing the imagery on a Tibetan Buddhist crown.
Seven Tips for Studying Art History on Your Own
There are lots of resources out there for people who want to study art history on their own. However, structure and guidance are harder to come by, so here is my best advice for getting the most out of your art history self study.
What is Attribution?
Understand attribution, the process by which art historians make educated suppositions about who made an artwork, and learn about the pseudonyms given to artists whose real names we don't know. Enjoy some pretty religious paintings at the same time.
What is Contrapposto?
The term contrapposto is often used when describing classical, Renaissance, and later paintings and sculptures. But what exactly is contrapposto?
How To Teach Children About Art History
I wasn't a big art lover as a child, but there's no reason other kids won't be. Here are my ideas for how to introduce children to art history.
Seven Reasons to Study Art History
I stumbled upon art history by accident and loved it, but here are some much better reasons to study this fascinating subject.
Surviving College Art History and Its Exams
Studying art history in college is a very rewarding experience, but it can definitely be a bit confusing and always stressful at exam time. Here is my advice about what to expect, how to succeed, and how to prepare for exams.
Period Eye: Seeing Old Art With Modern Eyes
We all know that things have been different in the past - worldviews, cultural preferences, technological capabilities, and more. But have you ever considered how that impacts the way you look at art?
What Are Votives? They’re Not Just Candles.
Over Christmas break, I saw Agents of Faith: Votive Objects in Time and Place at the Bard College Graduate Center Gallery in Manhattan. The show's almost over, so instead of writing a review, I thought I would tell you what votives are and what I learned about them in the show.