Art of the Long Nineteenth Century

This course critically examines European and non-European art and visual culture produced in the period between the French Revolution and the First World War. Spanning diverse geographies, temporalities, media and technologies, students consider the myriad ways historical developments and upheavals impacted and inspired the visual cultures of the day. Attention will be paid to the global reach of art and culture across the long nineteenth century, in particular the ways objects and ideas moved across borders through networks of exchange, trade and commerce. Historical topics for examination include steam and industrialisation, colonial expansion and conflict, slavery and civil war, commerce and consumption, and the growth of urban centres and the middle class. The outcome of the course will be an understanding of the birth of modernity and an appreciation of the continued impact of the nineteenth century on art and culture today.