What Category Is Art History?

Art|Art History

Art history is an academic discipline that studies the development and evolution of art throughout history. It looks at how art has been made, used, and interpreted in different cultures and contexts. Art history also examines how art has been received, studied, and preserved in various societies.

The area of study includes painting, photography, sculpture, architecture, prints, drawings, decorative arts, textiles, performance and digital arts. Its scope is vast; art historians may focus on a single artist or period of time or look at the broader picture of art across cultures and eras. In addition to studying objects of art such as paintings or sculptures, many art historians also explore theoretical issues such as aesthetics or cultural influences on the works.

Art history seeks to understand why and how works of art have been made in different times and places. It relies on both visual analysis and written material. Art historians use primary sources such as letters from artists or patrons; they also use secondary sources like books written by authors who have studied the subject extensively.

In order to study works of art accurately and objectively, art historians must learn about the relevant cultural context in which their object was created. This context includes social conditions such as class structure; political climate; economic conditions; religious beliefs; scientific knowledge; technological advances; fashion trends; philosophical ideas; or any other factors that may have influenced the creation of a work.

Art historians employ a range of methods to analyze works of art including iconography (the analysis of symbols within a work); formal analysis (the study of line, color and composition); contextual analysis (the examination of an artwork’s purpose within its cultural setting); and connoisseurship (the evaluation of an artwork based on knowledge gained through experience).

Ultimately what category is Art History? Art History is classified as a humanities discipline because it focuses on creative expression rather than scientific inquiry or practical application. As such it falls into a category alongside languages, literature, philosophy, religion and music – all disciplines that explore aspects of human culture rather than technical skills or empirical knowledge.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Art History is classified as a humanities discipline since it focuses on creative expression rather than scientific inquiry or practical application. It falls into a category alongside languages, literature, philosophy religion and music – all disciplines that explore aspects of human culture rather than technical skills or empirical knowledge.