Explore art and culture in the late 19th century Europe, focussing on the major developments in modern art including the Pre-Raphaelites, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and Symbolism, and their relationship to wider cultural contexts.
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The course explores the major art movements and critical theories that have influenced the making and reading of Western art since 1850. It will also consider the impact of photography, European colonialism, social and political revolutions on the avant-garde artists and the perception of art.
To do this we explore art movements as parts of the society that produced them, looking how how the wider world influences art and how art influences/reflects the wider world. We begin with Academic art and its confines and how foundational modern movements like Realism in France rebelled against it and movements like the Pre-Raphaelites in England in many ways conformed to it. When then turn to Impressionism, Symbolism, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Aestheticism and Post-Impressionism.
Some of the artists we will look include Édouard Manet, Berthe Morisot, Gustave Courbet, Edvard Munch, James Abbott McNeil Whistler, Aubrey Beardsley, May and William Morris, Mary Cassatt, Gustav Klimt, Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, Édouard Vuillard, Emilie Flöge, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cezanne and Georges Seurat. Please note that the course is focussed on the movements more than the artists' biographies.
What will we cover?
The course follows a broad survey of the major phases in modern art from 1850 to 1900, these include: -Academic Art/Orientalism -Realism/Naturalism -Pre-Raphaelites -Impressionism -Symbolism -Post-Impressionism -Arts and Crafts -Art Nouveau -Aestheticism and Decadence
Please note, these movements will not be covered in exactly this order.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Recognise different styles/types of modern art by outstanding visual elements - Discuss the social/cultural purpose of at least three of the major movements we discuss - Demonstrate an understanding of the socio-cultural contexts for the movements we study.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is open to all. No prior knowledge of the subject is required.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. This course uses a Google Classroom. Required documents will be printed for students, but supplemental documents will be shared via the Google Classroom. To make the most of the course materials, students should be willing to access the college's Google Classroom for these documents as they will not be emailed or printed for them.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught with lectures, silde presentations and group discussions. Required handouts will be printed by your tutor to support your learning on the course. All other handouts and supplemental learning will be available digitally via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within a week of your course start date. Powerpoint slides will not be shared.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to bring a notebook. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list given out in class, or visit some of the exhibitions recommended.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Modern art: movements 1900-1950 Modern art: movements 1950 to 2000
Sarah is an art historian, educator, curator and writer based in London. Before her current position as art history tutor coordinator and programme lead at City Lit Sarah was a curator in the Department of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum. For six years, she was the lead educator for the Bridget Riley Art Foundation and has also worked at Wellcome Collection exploring the connections of art, medicine and human experience. Sarah has been an art history lecturer since 2003. Her first MA was in art history, her second MA was in cultural studies and her BA (first) was in art history. Sarah's expertise is in late 19th/early 20th century French art, but is also a generalist, teaching on a variety of topics and prefers to place artworks and objects in their wider social and cultural contexts, from the European Renaissance to the contemporary, emphasising new narratives and approaches to Western Art History.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/modern-art-movements-1850-19001437346Modern art: movements 1850-1900https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/m/o/modern-art-vb140-1080.jpg279279GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Modern & contemporary art22851136117718951228511771136Explore art and culture in the late 19th century Europe, focussing on the major developments in modern art including the Pre-Raphaelites, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and Symbolism, and their relationship to wider cultural contexts.253040525Modern art: movements 1850-1900279279https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/m/o/modern-art-vb140-1080_5.jpgInStockDaytimeFriKeeley StreetNo longer available5-10 weeksWeekday2026-10-09T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceOct 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB140279279Modern art: movements 1850-1900223181279Sarah Jaffraymodern-art-movements-1850-1900/vb140-2627Explore art and culture in the late 19th century Europe, focussing on the major developments in modern art including the Pre-Raphaelites, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and Symbolism, and their relationship to wider cultural contexts.0015-FullStillOpen|2026-10-09 00:00:00<p>The course explores the major art movements and critical theories that have influenced the making and reading of Western art since 1850. It will also consider the impact of photography, European colonialism, social and political revolutions on the avant-garde artists and the perception of art.<br><br>To do this we explore art movements as parts of the society that produced them, looking how how the wider world influences art and how art influences/reflects the wider world. We begin with Academic art and its confines and how foundational modern movements like Realism in France rebelled against it and movements like the Pre-Raphaelites in England in many ways conformed to it. When then turn to Impressionism, Symbolism, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Aestheticism and Post-Impressionism.<br><br>Some of the artists we will look include Édouard Manet, Berthe Morisot, Gustave Courbet, Edvard Munch, James Abbott McNeil Whistler, Aubrey Beardsley, May and William Morris, Mary Cassatt, Gustav Klimt, Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, Édouard Vuillard, Emilie Flöge, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cezanne and Georges Seurat. <strong>Please note</strong> that the course is focussed on the movements more than the artists' biographies.</p>Explore art and culture in the late 19th century Europe, focussing on the major developments in modern art including the Pre-Raphaelites, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and Symbolism, and their relationship to wider cultural contexts.The course follows a broad survey of the major phases in modern art from 1850 to 1900, these include:<br>-Academic Art/Orientalism<br>-Realism/Naturalism<br>-Pre-Raphaelites<br>-Impressionism<br>-Symbolism<br>-Post-Impressionism<br>-Arts and Crafts<br>-Art Nouveau<br>-Aestheticism and Decadence<br><br>Please note, these movements will not be covered in exactly this order.- Recognise different styles/types of modern art by outstanding visual elements<br>- Discuss the social/cultural purpose of at least three of the major movements we discuss<br>- Demonstrate an understanding of the socio-cultural contexts for the movements we study.<p>The course is open to all. No prior knowledge of the subject is required.<br><br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. This course uses a Google Classroom. Required documents will be printed for students, but supplemental documents will be shared via the Google Classroom. To make the most of the course materials, students should be willing to access the college's Google Classroom for these documents as they will not be emailed or printed for them.</p><p>You will be taught with lectures, silde presentations and group discussions. Required handouts will be printed by your tutor to support your learning on the course. All other handouts and supplemental learning will be available digitally via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within a week of your course start date. <strong>Powerpoint slides will not be shared.</strong></p>You might wish to bring a notebook. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list given out in class, or visit some of the exhibitions recommended.<p>Modern art: movements 1900-1950<br>Modern art: movements 1950 to 2000</p>Art historyModern & contemporary artvirtual223279181VB140NONEFri09/10/26 - 04/12/2613:30 - 16:0013:3016:008 sessions (over 9 weeks)85-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetSarah JaffrayBeginners, Some experienceNo longer available2026-10-09T00:00:00+00:00Oct 2026Culture, history & humanities279279Modern art: movements 1850-1900modern-art-movements-1850-1900/vb140-2627Explore art and culture in the late 19th century Europe, focussing on the major developments in modern art including the Pre-Raphaelites, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and Symbolism, and their relationship to wider cultural contexts.0015-FullStillOpen|2026-10-09 00:00:00<p>The course explores the major art movements and critical theories that have influenced the making and reading of Western art since 1850. It will also consider the impact of photography, European colonialism, social and political revolutions on the avant-garde artists and the perception of art.<br><br>To do this we explore art movements as parts of the society that produced them, looking how how the wider world influences art and how art influences/reflects the wider world. We begin with Academic art and its confines and how foundational modern movements like Realism in France rebelled against it and movements like the Pre-Raphaelites in England in many ways conformed to it. When then turn to Impressionism, Symbolism, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Aestheticism and Post-Impressionism.<br><br>Some of the artists we will look include Édouard Manet, Berthe Morisot, Gustave Courbet, Edvard Munch, James Abbott McNeil Whistler, Aubrey Beardsley, May and William Morris, Mary Cassatt, Gustav Klimt, Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, Édouard Vuillard, Emilie Flöge, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cezanne and Georges Seurat. <strong>Please note</strong> that the course is focussed on the movements more than the artists' biographies.</p>Explore art and culture in the late 19th century Europe, focussing on the major developments in modern art including the Pre-Raphaelites, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and Symbolism, and their relationship to wider cultural contexts.The course follows a broad survey of the major phases in modern art from 1850 to 1900, these include:<br>-Academic Art/Orientalism<br>-Realism/Naturalism<br>-Pre-Raphaelites<br>-Impressionism<br>-Symbolism<br>-Post-Impressionism<br>-Arts and Crafts<br>-Art Nouveau<br>-Aestheticism and Decadence<br><br>Please note, these movements will not be covered in exactly this order.- Recognise different styles/types of modern art by outstanding visual elements<br>- Discuss the social/cultural purpose of at least three of the major movements we discuss<br>- Demonstrate an understanding of the socio-cultural contexts for the movements we study.<p>The course is open to all. No prior knowledge of the subject is required.<br><br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. This course uses a Google Classroom. Required documents will be printed for students, but supplemental documents will be shared via the Google Classroom. To make the most of the course materials, students should be willing to access the college's Google Classroom for these documents as they will not be emailed or printed for them.</p><p>You will be taught with lectures, silde presentations and group discussions. Required handouts will be printed by your tutor to support your learning on the course. All other handouts and supplemental learning will be available digitally via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within a week of your course start date. <strong>Powerpoint slides will not be shared.</strong></p>You might wish to bring a notebook. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list given out in class, or visit some of the exhibitions recommended.<p>Modern art: movements 1900-1950<br>Modern art: movements 1950 to 2000</p>Art historyModern & contemporary artconfigurable
18951136Modern & contemporary arthttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/art-history/modern-contemporary-art1/2/285/1177/1136/18951/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Modern & contemporary art
