ARTH 002. The Western Tradition

This course provides an introduction to Mediterranean and European art from prehistoric cave painting to the 18th century. We will consider a variety of media-from painting, sculpture, and architecture to ceramics, mosaic, metalwork, prints, and earthworks. The goal of this course is to provide a chronology of the major works in the Western tradition and to provide the vocabulary and methodologies necessary to analyze these works of art closely in light of the material, historical, religious, social, and cultural circumstances in which they were produced and received. We will give attention to the use and status of materials; the representation of social relations, gender, religion, and politics; the context in which works of art were used and displayed; and the critical response these works elicited.
Humanities.
1 credit.
Eligible for MDST, GLBL-Paired
Fall 2020. Reilly.
Fall 2021. Reilly.
Catalog chapter: Art and Art History
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/art

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