What Subject Is Art History?

Art|Art History

Art History is the study of visual arts and their development over time. It examines the meaning behind artworks and how they reflect their culture and society. Art History is an interdisciplinary field that combines history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and other disciplines to understand art and its place in people’s lives.

Art History studies the development of various art forms such as painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, film, performance art and digital media. It looks at how these forms evolved over time and how they were used to express ideas about politics, religion, social values or personal beliefs. It also looks at how different cultures influenced each other’s art and how it was shaped by advances in technology.

The field of Art History encompasses a wide range of topics from ancient Greek pottery to modern abstract painting. It can be divided into two main branches – the history of art before 1500 (pre-modern) and the history of art after 1500 (modern).

In the pre-modern period scholars focus on understanding the context in which artwork was created such as stylistic changes or patronage systems. In modern Art History scholars analyse artwork in terms of its cultural significance or psychological impact on its audience.

Art History is also concerned with conservation. This includes researching methods for preserving artwork as well as understanding processes for restoring works that have been damaged by time or natural disasters. Conservation also involves studying materials used in artwork for example paper or canvas so that conservators can understand better how to restore them if needed.

Art History is an important field because it helps us to better understand our past as well as our present through analysis of visual culture. By looking at art from different cultures we gain insight into their beliefs and values which can help us to understand our own culture better. It also helps us appreciate artwork from different eras more deeply by looking at it through a historical lens rather than simply viewing it aesthetically.

Conclusion: What subject is Art History? Art History is an interdisciplinary field that combines history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and other disciplines to understand visual arts throughout time – examining the meaning behind them and their development over time; exploring their cultural significance; researching methods for conservation; appreciating them through a historical lens; while looking at materials used in artwork for example paper or canvas so that conservators can understand better how to restore them if needed .