Clear and concise weekly themes provide a framework to discuss a range of art objects selected from Europe, Asia and the Americas.
The course begins with an exploration of different timelines within art history. Subsequently, each week surveys various forms of representation, analyzing how art has developed from the iconic works of the Old Masters to the innovative practices of contemporary artists today. This structure provides you with the necessary background and tools to confidently address complex subjects in art history, art criticism, curatorial work, and collecting—all indispensable to anyone wishing to expand their knowledge of art or pursue a professional career in the art world.
Online Faculty
Dr. Giovanni Aloi is an art historian specializing in the history and theory of photography, representation of nature, and everyday objects in art. He has published with Columbia University Press, Phaidon, Laurence King, and Prestel and has been appointed co-editor of the University of Minnesota series Art after Nature. Since 2006, Dr. Aloi has been the Editor in Chief of Antennae: The Journal of Nature in Visual Culture. He is a radio contributor and a regular public speaker at the Art Institute of Chicago and Tate Galleries in London. He has co-curated exhibits, including photography, digital, and time-based media. Aloi is a faculty at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Sotheby’s Institute of Art New York where he lectures on the history of the art market and collecting.
Read MoreWeek 1: Examine the broad timeline of art history and identify key perspectives.
Week 2: Explore how artists use materials, media, and surfaces.
Week 3: Discover methods used for assessing art and understanding artistic production.
Week 4: Explore the concepts of beauty and ugliness in art.
Week 5: Understand the roles of power relations and everyday art.
Week 6: See how art engages and encourages personal, collective, and political connections.
Week 7: Examine gender politics and the rise of gender theories in art.
Week 8: Discover ways in which art encourages explorations of identity.
This flexible online course is delivered in weekly modules consisting of recorded lectures, instructor-guided discussion boards, and supplementary resources. The course will include a final project with personalized feedback from the course instructor. All participants will have read-only access to the course materials for an additional 90 days after the course end date.
Review the online course Terms and Conditions.
For successfully completing this course, you receive a verified Certificate of Completion from Sotheby’s Institute of Art as well as 4.9 IACET Continuing Education Units. *
Our digital certificates allow you to share new skills with various social media platforms, including LinkedIn. Successful completion is defined by each instructor in the course syllabus and consists, at the least, of regular, thoughtful participation in online activities and timely submission of assigned papers or projects.
*As an IACET Accredited Provider, Sotheby’s Institute of Art offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard.