When Was the New Art History?

Art|Art History

The New Art History, as it is now known, emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s as an answer to the traditional art history that focused almost exclusively on western art. It was a response to the growing recognition of the importance of cultural diversity and was a way for academics to move away from a Eurocentric view of art history.

At this time, scholars began to look at art from global perspectives, as well as from perspectives based in gender, race, class and sexuality. They sought to broaden the scope of what was being studied in terms of art history by looking at works from around the world and throughout different time periods. The emergence of postcolonialism further encouraged this move away from traditional western-centric approaches.

The new approach had a focus on studying the social context in which art was created and viewed through an interdisciplinary lens that included elements of sociology, anthropology and psychology, among other disciplines. This allowed scholars to think more critically about how art contributes to cultural meaning and identity.

In addition, with this new approach came an emphasis on understanding how power dynamics play out within artistic production and reception. This included looking at who has access to producing or viewing certain works of art and why certain works are seen as more important than others.

Perhaps one of the most significant changes brought about by The New Art History is its emphasis on considering how art is experienced by its viewers. By looking at how individuals interact with artwork differently due to their individual backgrounds or experiences, it helped scholars better understand how culture shapes our engagement with visual culture.

The New Art History has had a huge impact on the study of visual culture today and has allowed us to engage with artwork in new ways that take into account its various meanings across space and time.

When Was The New Art History? The New Art History emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s as an answer to traditional Eurocentric approaches to studying art history. It has since evolved into an interdisciplinary field that considers both historical context and individual experience when engaging with artwork.