Paris Icons
What you’ll learn
You will explore the memoirs and legacies of Parisian icons—from artists and writers to revolutionaries and visionary creators—while uncovering how their lives shaped the city’s identity. Through their stories, you’ll understand why their influence continues to resonate in Paris today. As you move through the course, you will trace the evolution of major artistic and cultural movements that emerged in and around the city, from Romanticism, Art Nouveau, Impressionism, and Symbolism to modern dance, early cinema, feminist art, and the political upheavals of May ’68, leading up to contemporary cultural figures.
Places You May Explore
You will visit neighbourhoods, landmarks, museums, and archives closely connected to the artistic and cultural revolutions that defined Paris, allowing you to experience firsthand the environments that shaped its most influential figures.
Supplies
While PCA provides the essential tools for the class to run, students provide their own supplies. A list of required materials will be shared on the summer student portal before the start of the program. Expenses for supplies are estimated at between €30 to €150.
Course highlight
A multidisciplinary journey guided by figures such as Victor Hugo, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, André Le Nôtre, Loïe Fuller, Josephine Baker, and Niki de Saint Phalle.
Immersive on-site explorations that connect biography, art history, architecture, and performance.
A narrative-based approach linking individual lives to the broader cultural movements that transformed Paris.
Engagement with both historical and contemporary Parisian creative scenes.
Prerequisites
No prior background in art history or cultural studies is required. A curiosity for Paris’s artistic heritage, a willingness to engage with the city through observation and research, and basic English comprehension will ensure you’re fully prepared for this course.
When
Session 1 (June 15 – June 26), Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
Tuition Cost
Early Bird Rate (before January 31): 3 Credit: €2,500 | Audit: €1,700
Standard Rate (after January 31): 3 Credit: €2,900 | Audit: €1,950
Bundles
2 classes = 5% off tuition fees
3 classes = 10% off tuition fees
