Paris Through Its Museums and Artistic Sites

This course is designed to introduce the student to the artistic and historical tradition of cosmopolitan Paris.

During the course the rich cultural and historical heritage of Paris, as it has come down to us from the Middle Ages to the present day, will be explored through a dynamic program of venturing into the city to learn about its cultural resources.

Social, political and economic changes have been paralleled by scientific, philosophical and artistic developments. For centuries there has been a passion for change and renewal, most clearly of all in the visual arts. Students will learn to read with their eyes and experience works of art in person, analyzing various complex artworks; visiting historic sites, monuments and museums; and considering the city’s remarkable urban development and contributions to architecture and design.

The focus will be on several historically organized sections: the development of Romanesque and Gothic art in France; the royal and imperial patrimony of the 17th to the 19th centuries; the achievements of the Parisian avant-gardes from the end of the 19th century until the Second World War; and, finally, postmodern Paris. Classroom discussions will alternate with visits to artistic and historical sites in and around the city.