What Is the Study of Art History Called?

Art|Art History

The study of art history is a discipline that traces the development of visual arts across cultures and through time. It encompasses both the artistic production of objects as well as their critical analysis, theorization, and interpretation. Art historians seek to contextualize works of art and to explore the relationships between them, drawing upon a variety of disciplines in order to do so, including archaeology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, and philosophy.

In order to understand how works of art were produced in their own contexts and communities, art historians must often look beyond the objects themselves – examining written records such as letters or diaries; architectural plans; historical photographs; or other visual evidence such as film or television recordings. Art history is also concerned with the changing meaning that works have taken on over time – for example, how a particular painting might have had different meanings for its original audience compared to viewers centuries later.

The study of art history is often divided into broad chronological periods – ancient, medieval, Renaissance/Baroque/Neoclassical/Romanticism etc. – which are further divided into smaller sub-periods based on specific stylistic characteristics or cultural movements. Art historians must also consider how gender, race, class and other aspects of identity shape artistic production and reception.

What Is the Study of Art History Called? The practice of studying art history is known as art historiography — the interpretation and analysis of artwork within its cultural context in order to draw conclusions about its meaning and significance. Art historians rely upon both primary sources (documents written by people who were present at the time) and secondary sources (written by scholars who are analyzing those documents) in order to form an accurate understanding of a given artwork or period in history.

Conclusion:

The study of art history is an invaluable tool for understanding how visual arts have developed over time and across cultures. It combines research from a variety of disciplines with critical analysis to interpret works within their original contexts. The practice is known as art historiography—the interpretation and analysis of artwork within its cultural context in order to draw conclusions about its meaning and significance.