What Are the Methods of Art History?

Art|Art History

Art History is the study of art from its origins to the present day. It is an interdisciplinary field, combining elements of history, archaeology, anthropology, sociology, and other disciplines. The goal of art history is to understand how and why art has evolved, and how it has been manifested in different cultures throughout history.

Methods of Art History

Art Historians use a variety of methods to study the history of art. These methods include archival research, object analysis, iconographic analysis, and stylistic analysis. Archival research involves looking at documents such as letters, diaries, photographs and other materials related to the artwork being studied.

Object analysis involves examining the physical characteristics of the artwork itself in order to understand its cultural context. Iconographic analysis is used to determine what symbols or images were used in a particular artwork and how they were interpreted by viewers of that time period. Finally, stylistic analysis involves examining the style or technique used in a piece of art in order to compare it with other works from similar time periods.

Conclusion

Art History provides an important perspective on our past and present culture through its many methods of study – archival research, object analysis, iconographic analysis and stylistic analysis. These methods help us gain insight into the way people have created and interacted with art throughout history.