Fauvism, Cubism, Futurism, Orphism, German Expressionism, and Suprematism are just some of the styles that emerged in the decade before World War I. That brief moment saw the birth of abstraction as well as radical innovations in the use of line, color, and material. Artists rethought the Academic tradition, integrated non-Western motifs into European art, and created works that changed the course of twentieth-century art. This course will survey both the famous and the lesser known products of the pre-War era in order to address broader questions like: What is the nature of style and how does it relate to representation? How does artistic influence function? And why would a culture have more than one style at a time?

Estimated cost of materials: $0-$50.

HISTART Concentration Distributions: 4. Modern and Contemporary, D. Europe and the U.S.

Textbooks/Other Materials: Readings on Canvas

Course requirements: Participation (30%), Short Assignments (30%), Research Paper and Presentation (40%)

Intended audience: All are welcome.

Class format: Seminar, two 1.5-hour meetings per week