When the world became modern - Early modern art (1415–1815)

This advanced-level course offers an in-depth understanding of the visual cultures of the early modern period and their crucial role in shaping modern thought. Between 1415 and 1815, Europe underwent profound transformations: Reformation, absolutism, Enlightenment, war, and revolution, all of which reshaped how people perceived the world and themselves. Through art historical perspectives, you will explore how these ideas and upheavals took visual form: how power was staged, how faith and reason were set in tension, how voyages of discovery and colonial encounters were represented, and how life and death were depicted in an age of dramatic change. The course allows you to analyse works from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Enlightenment periods, from monumental paintings and architecture to prints, portraits, and popular imagery, with a focus on the role of images in social and intellectual processes. The course is designed for students who wish to deepen their art historical expertise and develop an analytical understanding of how art contributed to the making of the modern world. It is particularly suitable for students of art history, intellectual history, cultural heritage, or the humanities more broadly who wish to explore the interplay between image, power, and thought in Europe’s early modern culture.