Research Guides: Art History: Topics in Art History

Topics in Art History

Deepen your understanding of the periods and developments in art, frameworks for visual and material culture analysis, and the principles of design by exploring the resources listed below.

Art History

Perspectives On Western Art

The Art of Art History

The Handbook of Visual Analysis

Thinking about Art: A Thematic Guide to Art History

The Pocket Universal Principles of Art

Visual and Material Culture Analysis

Visual Analysis and New Media Art
introductory college art and art history textbook from Open Oregon
How to Analyze and Interpret Visual Art
covers the importance of understanding the context of an artwork, observing its formal elements, and connecting with it both emotionally and intellectually
The Frames, Conceptual Framework and Artmaking
Refers to the frames we use to look at art, in order to find meaning: the subjective, structural, cultural and postmodern
Visual organizers appropriate for visual arts in context
Diagrams, maps, matrices, and frameworks for comparative studies

Art and Design Principles

Formal Visual Analysis: The Elements & Principles of Composition
a strategy used to translate what you see into written words
Elements of Art
The components or parts of a work of art that can be isolated and defined
Principles of Design
6 basic concepts or theories in the area of design