🔵 🔴 🟡 Course description

The aim of the course is to present the basic concepts, theoretical approaches and different media, movements, currents, techniques and styles in Western Art (from 18th century until the early 1970s), to exercise critical skill and analyze visual material, as well as to study the relationship between artistic production and historical reality in its broad sense. 

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Recognize the main artistic currents of the period from the mid-18th century until the early 1970s, identifying the main representatives, their techniques and aesthetics.

• Relate the content and forms of artworks to the social, historical, and cultural context in which they were created, explaining how this influenced artistic production.

• Critically analyze the visual material of different periods, identifying characteristics, differentiations and influences between art movements.

• Formulate and present with clarity and documentation their personal interpretations of works of art, both oral and written.

• Utilize digital tools and online resources for research and presentation of works of art, enriching their critical gaze with multimedia content.

• Develop critical analysis of projects, and prepare short research papers, developing research and writing skills.

• Practice critical and self-critical thinking, promoting their creativity, free expression and aesthetic sensitivity.

• Be sensitized to issues of multiculturalism and social identities, identifying the importance of art in highlighting social issues.

🔵 🔴 🟡 Theory (2 hours)

1. Introduction to Art History. The theories of Modernity and Modernism (3 hours) 

2. From Romanticism to Realism (2 hours)

3. Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and Symbolism (2 hours)

4. European Primitivism (2 hours)

5. The Fovs, Expressionism and the New Objectivity (2 hours)

6. Displacement (2 hours)

7. Futurism, Dada, Surrealism. (2 hours)

8. Russian and Soviet avant-garde: Cubo-futurism, suprematism, constructivism (2 hours)

9. German Interwar I. Architecture and design: the Bauhaus (2 hours)

10. German Interwar II. Cinema in the Weimar Republic (2 hours)

11. American Modernism: Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art (2 hours)

12. From Modernism to Postmodernism (2 hours)

13. Overview of the material. (3 hours)

🔵 🔴 🟡 Workshop (1 hour)

1. Critical examination of works and texts from the period of Romanticism to Realism 

2. Critical examination of works and texts from the period of Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and Symbolism.

3. Critical examination of works and texts from the period of European Primitivism.

4. Critical examination of works and texts from the period of Fauvism, Expressionism and the New Objectivity.

5. Critical examination of works and texts from the Cubist period.

6. Critical examination of works and texts from the period of Futurism, Dada and Surrealism.

7. Critical examination of works and texts from the period of the Russian and Soviet avant-garde.

8. Critical examination of works and texts from the German interwar period, architecture and design at the Bauhaus.

9. Critical examination of works and texts from the German interwar period, in the cinema of the Weimar Republic.

10. Critical examination of works and texts from the period of American Modernism: Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art

11. Critical examination of works and texts from the beginnings of Postmodernism.

Review language: Greek

🔵 🔴 🟡 Evaluation method:

• Evaluation method I (30%)

  1. Written Assignment and Public Presentation (specifications of written work are given, e.g. extent, evaluation criteria)

• Assessment mode II (70%)

  1. Written final exam

• Face-to-face
• Use of PowerPoint and audio-visual examples (13 lectures)

• Support of the learning process through eClass with weekly provision of audiovisual material, links, photos, extra bibliography and related information (exhibitions, cultural institutions, etc.) Digital visual material is used in the workshops (e.g. museum online databases, Google Arts & Culture)

https://eclass.uop.gr/courses/3371/

🔵 🔴 🟡 Course Textbooks [Eudoxus]

• Argan, Carlo J. (2014) Modern Art 1770-1970. Crete University Press
• Arnason H. (2005). The History of Contemporary Art. Painting, sculpture, architecture, photography. Epikentro Publications

Extra Bibliography

• F. Kokavesis (trans.), M. Papanikolaou (ed.), Athens: Epikentro
• Gray, K. 1987. The Russian Avant-Garde, P. Rigopoulou (trans.), Athens: Infrastructure
• Daskalothanasis, N. 2004. The Artist as a Historical Subject from the 19th to the 20th century. Athens: Agra Publications
• Gombrich, E. 1998, The Chronicle of Art. Athens: MIET.
• Collective work. 2010. Concepts of Modern Art: From Fauvism to Postmodernism. Athens: MIET.
• Bordwell, D., Thompson, K., & Smith, J. C. 2020. Film art: An introduction. New York: McGraw-Hill Education
• Eisenman, S., & Crow, T. E. 2011. Nineteenth century art: A critical history. New York: Thames & Hudson Harrison, Ch., Wood, P. 2003. Art in theory, 1900-2000: an anthology of changing ideas. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing
• Honour, H., & Fleming, J. 2018. A world history of art. London: Laurence King Publishing
• Rosenblum, R., & Janson, H. W. 2004. Art of the nineteenth century: Painting and sculpture. London: Pearson Prentice Hall