Art History: 1860 to Today offers an introduction to the histories of Western modern and contemporary art and provides a foundation in the knowledge and skills of art history. Focusing on critical figures including Manet, Cassat, Picasso, Duchamp, and Koons, as well as essential styles and movements such as Cubism, Surrealism, Pop Art, and Minimalism, this course moves from charting the rise of Impressionism in nineteenth-century Paris to examining the impact of globalization on art practice in the twenty-first century. Each week’s online discussions and activities lead students through the relevant themes of a particular period, so students can develop their visual analysis skillset and practice writing and discussing art with specific and essential terminology.
Faculty, MA Contemporary Art, and MA Historic Art and Design, New York
Morgan Falconer is a critic and art historian. After completing a PhD on art and culture in New York in the 1920s and 1930s, he worked as an art journalist and critic, first in London and later in New York. He has written about contemporary art for publications including "The Times (London)," "Art Journal," "The Economist," "Frieze," "The Burlington Magazine," "The Village Voice," and "Art in America." He has written catalogue essays on artists including Georg Baselitz ("Gagosian," 2019), Ugo Rondinone ("Ringier," 2018) and Alex Katz ("Hannover Kestnergesellschaft," 2011). His research interests span Postminimalism, art criticism, and the avant-garde, and his books include "Painting Beyond Pollock" (Phaidon), a history of painting after 1945, and "How to Be Avant-Garde" (W.W. Norton), a biographical exploration of modern artists’ quest to end art.
Read MoreAdjunct Faculty, Online
Georgia Krantz is an art historian with a focus on modern and contemporary art. She has taught at the New School and Pratt Institute as well as the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Jewish Museum, the International Center of Photography and other New York City institutions. She currently teaches graduate studies at the Interactive Telecommunications Program at Tisch/NYU. Krantz is also involved professionally in art education for people with disabilities, specializing in teaching people who are blind about art.
Read MoreWeek 1: Explore the roots of Modern art through impressionism and post-impressionism.
Week 2: Examine Art Nouveau, Cubism and Expressionism.
Week 3: Explore the heroic Avant-Garde and Surrealist movements
Week 4: Discuss Classicism, Photojournalism and Art Deco.
Week 5: Examine post-war art, the New York School, and the International Modern.
Week 6: Understand the birth of contemporary art through the lens of Pop, Postmodernism, and Minimalism.
Week 7: Explore art of the 1980’s with focus on heroism and activism.
Week 8: Learn about the global contemporary shift by examining relational art and everyday life.
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.
To identify and define essential terminology used in art historical practice and scholarly research.
To recognize and describe styles and periods in Western art history from the 1860’s to the present day.
To define and implement vocabulary to communicate confidently and effectively about art and artists.
To synthesize compelling analytical arguments around artworks and artists.
To evaluate evidence from a range of scholarly sources relating to art.
For successfully completing this course, you receive a verified Certificate of Completion from Sotheby’s Institute of Art as well as 5 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.
We encourage interested individuals to book a consultation time with a member of our admissions team to learn more about this course and our registration process.
Please use this link to book a consultation time via phone or video call.