African American Art History

This course critically examines the production of Black artists in the United States from the seventeenth century to the present day. We will consider the work of makers and artists such asDavid Drake, Edmonia Lewis, William Edmondson, Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Betye Saar, Kerry James Marshall, and Amy Sherald; and study a broad range of artistic productions including sculpture, painting, photography, quilts, and ceramics. A significant portion of the course will be devoted to understanding the social, political, and cultural contexts that have shaped Black artistic production, along with the ways that artists, scholars, and curators have worked to define African American art in relation to Euro-American art history.

Cross-listings: AAAS 323/523, HIST 389
Major breadth: Americas, Africa, Middle East and Post 1850