IN PERSON: For centuries, art had been primarily the purview of aristocratic and religious patrons; but, in the 19th century, adventuresome artists broke with tradition and introduced new subjects and techniques. This course will look at the birth of the avant-garde in the middle of the 19th century with the appearance of realism and its exploration of the lives of the middle and lower classes. From this evolved an even more radical approach in impressionism, which combined the new subject matter of realism with controversial techniques that captured the new energy of the time. After a brief look at what was considered official art, we’ll explore the art of the realists, particularly Gustave Courbet. Édouard Manet will serve as a transition to the impressionists, and we’ll examine the characteristics of the group, their interest in new urban and rural environments, and their perceptions of changing human interactions, including sexuality and gender. | Lecture + Q&A.
Max enrollment: 50.
Location: Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W. Cornwallis Rd, Durham NC 27705
