Art History – Progression

Required qualifications

No qualifications or experienced needed but more experienced learners will have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills further.

What skills will I develop?

Autumn Term: British Art of the 20th Century (Part 1)

The course will look at early 20th century British art and the influence of mainstream European modern art. While the French Impressionists inspired Cornish artists in the 1880s, Italian Futurism did the same for Britain’s first avant-garde movement Vorticism and artists like Paul Nash took up Surrealism, Walter Sickert’s art was also influenced by the English music hall and ‘Jack the ripper’ and landscape artists in the 30s revived the English Romantic tradition.

Programme (5 weeks) and topics covered:

• British Plain-Air Painters
• Sickert & The Camden Town Group
• Bloomsbury and the Art of the Twenties and Thirties
• Paul Nash and British Surrealism
• Neo-Romanticism

Spring Term: British Art of the 20th Century (Part 2)

Learners are advised to do the Tuesday Art History course first. As British abstract art emerged in the 1930s, so Francis Bacon produced an existential art that was highly figurative. In the 1960s ‘Swinging London’ had a leading role in fashion and Pop Art and in the 1990s the YBA drew a worldwide audience.

Programme (5 weeks) and topics covered:

• Frances Bacon and the Age of Existentialism
• Abstract Art in Britain
• British Fashion in the 20th century
• Anthony Gormley and the New Generation of British Sculptors
• Aspects of Contemporary British Art

Summer Term: Aspects of Art History

Learners are advised to do the Tuesday Art History course first. The course will look at aspects of art history that tend not to be covered in a standard programme of Western art history. Often overlooked, the role of collectors, dealers, curators and the art market for example have played a significant role in shaping art history. More recently, revisionism has seen emerging subjects like feminist, black, LGBT, and post-colonial art widen our understanding of art beyond the traditional cannons of fine art.

Programme (5weeks) and topics covered:

• Queer British Art
• Black Art
• Post-Colonialism
• The Art Market (Part 1: The 17th to 19th century)
• The Art Market (Part 2: The 20th century)

Careers

On completion of the course learners may either consolidate their skills and knowledge by studying a different programme in art and design history, diversify onto related art subjects like pottery and painting or progress onto a higher-level course and onto gaining qualifications in art and design history.

English and maths

Learners will learn key terms, encouraged to use appropriate vocabulary and to discuss and debate a work of art. Learners will also learn about measuring, proportioning and perspective.

Other important information

Learners should equip themselves for the following:

• Pen and notepad
• An open mind
• That some images can be of a sexual or violent nature
• Access to the internet
• The option of doing twice termly home tests on acquired knowledge and understanding

Please note students require to be aged 19+ to enrol on the course.