art history

Much as the late nineteenth-century American myth of Manifest Destiny was used to justify westward expansion, many history paintings worked to shape and uphold stories of superiority and inferiority…

Copying within the context of the art world has evolved over the centuries. What was once understood as a vital tool for study and learning is now often perceived, especially by laymen, as a kind of…

In many cultures, green is the color of rebirth and prosperity, a harbinger of life and spring. However, placed within the context of the nineteenth century, green begins to represent the dualities…

This past week, the fashion house of Schiaparelli debuted their couture collection featuring surrealist forms, realistic animal busts, and kitsch designs

So much of what we know about art comes from art historians, but how much do we know about the art historians themselves?

The femme fragile was the product of its time: in the Victorian era, feminine weakness conveyed Godliness and mental purity.

Considered a founder of Impressionism, Edgar Degas actually disliked the label, preferring Realist or Independent. Best known for his paintings and bronze sculptures, Degas was also a printmaker and…