The Modern Genius: Art and Culture in the 19th Century

This Art History course investigates the role of the French avant-garde in developing and showcasing new modern forms and approaches to art and visual culture in the 19th century. The material addresses the most critical issues of modernity from Realism through Post-Impressionism. We will cover the stylistic changes that challenged academic art, the new subjects that confounded modern audiences, and the new roles and authority of the modern artist. To do this, we will focus on the European world through a series of video podcasts and online readings over five weeks. By the end of the course, you will understand the issues of modernity and the way that art and art-making addressed these issues as well as recognize the profound impact that 19th century Europe had in shaping our contemporary ideas of being “modern.”

• Modernity and Realism
• In this session, we'll be going over the beginnings of Modernity throughout the 19th century.
• Impressionism: Problems and Issues Then and Now
• In this session, we’ll be identifying the formal characteristics, subjects and practices of Impressionism, its different interpretations from Social History and feminist contexts, and the development of modern sculpture.
• Post-Impressionism and Artistic Genius
• This session will discuss the development of Post-Impressionism, subsequent “isms” movements, primitive art, and the concept of the artist as the tortured genius.
• The Visual Culture of Modern Europe: New Technologies, New Venues, New Ideas
• In this session, we’ll be going over how photography changed the representation of the modern world, along with the rise of international art expositions and the modern female nude.
• Edges and Resistance
• In this session, we’ll be identifying the utilitarian and aesthetic differences of the Arts and Crafts Movement and Art Nouveau from modern fine art.