Art in Chicago

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This course will take as its starting point nearby art collections and exhibitions in Chicago and the surrounding areas. This semester we will look primarily at paintings, sculptures, photographs, and installations at the Art Institute of Chicago. Drawing heavily on its strong holdings in modern and contemporary European and American art, each class session will be devoted to the careful research and analysis of one or two objects in the collection. We will read art historical texts that contextualize each work, allowing us to practice engagement at the visual, critical, and art historical levels. We will focus on looking at and writing on visual subjects, so discussion, writing, and participation will be essential components of the course. Some of the artists on whom we will focus include Monet, Cassatt, Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian, O'Keeffe, Pollock, Warhol, and Sherman. At least one trip to Chicago will be a required part of the course.