Art History and Architecture
- Affords Visits to NYC Museums and Galleries
- Examines All Media
- Explores Style, Movements, and Forms
These courses provide a forum for exploring the world of art—from ancient artifacts and ruins to contemporary painters and photographers. You will tour New York City’s renowned museums and galleries with art historians and museum professionals, as you develop an understanding of the history, cultural context, and aesthetics of art movements and trends.
Art in the Public Domain
Learn about important examples of public art in New York City and about the process behind selecting, creating, and managing these works.
Contemporary Architecture, 1990 to Present
Explore the most important developments in architecture since the 1990s—ideas, ideologies, projects, buildings, and cities.
Developing Connoisseurship: Learning to Look
Learn the art of connoisseurship, and gain an understanding of why one artist or painting is considered to be “better” than another.
Forging a National Identity: American Art and Architecture from Independence to the Civil War
This course introduces major works and themes of American art, from the nation’s independence to the Civil War.
German Art: From Impressionism to the Bauhaus
Learn about key German artists from 1880 to 1945 and their contribution to artistic movements, from impressionism to the Bauhaus.
In Praise of Painting: Dutch Masterpieces at The Met
Explore masterpieces from the Dutch Golden Age in conjunction with a new exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Islamic Art History
Join us for a visual journey into the riches of the arts of the Islamic world.
New York in the Jazz Age: Art Deco Architecture from Tribeca to the Upper West Side
Through five walking tours, trace the influence of the brash new style of art deco as it transformed 1920s New York City into a modern metropolis.
The Art Scene
Visit New York City’s museums and galleries to gain fresh insight into the meaning of and inspiration for today’s art.
Vienna 1900: Artistic Modernism and the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Explore the history of modernism’s fascinating artistic ferment and experimentation in Vienna and throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
New York City Real Estate: A Social and Architectural History
Learn about the best and the meanest of New York City housing history, from tenements to Billionaires’ Row.
The Philosophy of Art
Explore timeless questions about art from a philosophical perspective: What is the significance of art? How is it meant to be understood?
Americans in Paris
This course celebrates a distinguished group of 20th-century American artists, writers, and musicians who made Paris their adoptive home.
Art Styles Through the Ages
Develop your eye for and your understanding of painting, sculpture, and architecture—and build a foundation in the history of art.
Art Styles Through the Ages: Baroque Art Through the 20th Century
Develop an eye for, and an understanding of, painting, sculpture, and architecture from the baroque era through the 20th century.
The Age of Rembrandt: Dutch Painting in The Metropolitan Museum of Art
At the Met, study some of the finest paintings produced during the Dutch Golden Age, including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Hals, and Vermeer.
The Contemporary Art World
Visit the most important exhibits currently showing in New York and develop an understanding of the aesthetics of modern art.
What Is American in American Art, 1880-1950
This course surveys American art, including paintings, drawings, and sculpture, from 1880 to 1950.
Art Since 1945: What You Need to Know
Delve into the postwar American and international art movements and learn about their formal concerns, vocabulary, and most influential artists.
Art Styles Through the Ages: Cave Art Through Renaissance Art
Develop an eye for, and understanding of, painting, sculpture, and architecture, and build a foundation in art history through the Renaissance.
Art of the American Black Experience: From Reconstruction to the Harlem Renaissance
Trace the history of African American experience from Reconstruction through the Harlem Renaissance by studying the art of these eras.
Asian Fine and Decorative Art: An Introduction
Study the history of Asian art, with a focus on periods and styles important for identifying works frequently found in museums and the marketplace.
Madame de Pompadour at the Court of Versailles
Explore the life of Madame de Pompadour, who managed to hold one of the most influential court positions at Versailles for close to two decades.
What Is American in American Art, 1750-1880
This course provides a survey of American art, including paintings, drawings, and sculpture, from 1750 to 1880.
Cairo: Medieval to Modern
Explore the history, architecture, and artistic importance of Cairo, Egypt.
Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and Minimalism
Explore the art and artists from the post-World War II movements of abstract expressionism, pop art, and minimalism.
An Introduction to Islamic Art and Architecture
Trace the history of art and architecture of the Islamic world, from Spain to Southeast Asia.
Art and Spirituality: From Cave Paintings to Picasso
Explore the relationship between art and spirituality, including in modern art by 20th-century masters.
European Art Between the Wars: 1918-1940
Immerse yourself in the divergent styles that developed in European art between the world wars, as well as the flourishing architecture and design.
Figurative Expressionists of the New York School
Get an inside look at the development of figurative expressionism of the New York School under the guidance of Dr. George Nelson Preston.
From Blake to Ernst: Symbols in 19th- and 20th-Century Art
Gain a new level of appreciation and understanding of modern art through the study of symbols.
Inside "Outsider Art"
Learn about the mixed-media movement of “outsider art”—its history, influences, artists, and presence in New York collections.
Islamic Cultural History: Music, Literature, and Dance
Explore the cultural history of the Islamic world by examining its literature, music, dance, and art.
Masterpieces at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Learn about and discuss major works of art in the Met Museum within the contexts of symbolism, individual expression, and changing styles.
NYC Image Makers: New York's Most Influential Architects of the 19th Century
Become familiar with the leading architects and architectural masterpieces of 19th-century New York City, including City Hall and Trinity Church.
New Acquisitions at the Met
This course surveys notable recent additions to The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection.
Persian Painting
Learn about Persian painting by exploring the history and aesthetics of the miniature painting traditions from Iran, Central Asia, India, and Turkey.
Photography: The "New" Fine Art
Learn more about photography as an important art form, including its history and the “masters” of photography and their iconic images.
The Bauhaus: Modernism in Art, Architecture, and Design
Explore the historical, aesthetic, and ideological background of the Bauhaus.
The Six-Hour Art Major
Learn about studio art techniques, art history, and art appreciation in this concentrated seminar.
Touched by Fire: Van Gogh's Passion
Learn about van Gogh’s life, and discover the work of a self-taught artist who reached toward a world he could not hold but loved nonetheless.
Women Artists at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Consider the important contributions of women artists in Western art, with a focus on the Met’s collection of art by women.