Art History

Art History Before 1450

VAFA191

This survey course covers painting, sculpture, and/or architecture from the Paleolithic period through the age of Gothic cathedrals. Students gain a formal understanding of ancient, classical, and medieval art. They interpret selected examples of Western art using a variety of analytic methodologies, including cultural, religious, social, political, and/or economic context.

3 credits
Prerequisite: None
Corequisite: None

Art History After 1450

VAFA192

This survey course covers painting, sculpture, and/or architecture from the Renaissance through Impressionism. Students gain a formal understanding of Western art by major artists of the fifteenth through nineteenth centuries. They interpret selected examples of art using a variety of analytic methodologies, including cultural, religious, social, political, and/or economic context.

3 credits
Prerequisite: None
Corequisite: None

History of Modern Art

VAFA193

This survey course covers painting, sculpture, and/or architecture from the late-nineteenth century up to the present. Students gain a formal understanding of major twentieth-century stylistic movements. They interpret selected examples of Modern art using a variety of analytic methodologies, including cultural, religious, social, political, and/or economic context.

3 credits
Prerequisite: None
Corequisite: None

American Art History

VAFA194

This survey course covers the history of American painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, and other significant arts and crafts from the settlement period to the present. Students gain a formal understanding of American art. Students examine American art from cultural, social, and economic perspectives.

3 credits
Prerequisite: None
Corequisite: None

Non-Western Art History

VAFA195

This course surveys the art and architecture of India, China, and Japan, from the earliest times to the 19th century. Indian art is presented in the context of Buddhist, Hindu, and Islamic traditions. Relationships between Chinese and Japanese art are examined. Influence in Islamic and Western culture is also explored.

3 credits
Prerequisite: None
Corequisite: None

History of Photography

VAFA196

This survey course covers the history of photography from its invention in 1839 to the present day. Specific artists, movements, and technical histories will be explored, together with some of the relationships between photography and aesthetics, culture, and social history.

3 credits
Prerequisite: None
Corequisite: None