Artistic communication
General knowledge of European geography and history from the end of the XIXth to the beginning of the XXIth century
It is preferred the student have already acquired a survey on European History of Literature.
Learning objectives and expected didactic results
The student will acquire a survey on European History of Art from the end of the XIXth to the beginning of the XXIth century, with special interest on the historic vanguard movements. The iconographic and iconological aspects, the patronage role and the public perception of Art have to be developed with special care.
Among the cognitive results expected can be indicated secondary skills for a visual analysis of the art work, the use of appropriate and varied vocabulary; it is required a comparison ability, considering the correct space and time outline. It means to apply knowledge accurately to comment on works of art and architecture (with special care on the colours use and selection), considering also geographical and chronological setting, to identify stylistic characteristics and meaning of the art work using the proper language and showing the student’s knowledge comparing different phenomenon and periods, considering also Extra European Art and Architecture movements.
Final assessment
The final examination consists of an oral exam with three general questions (ig.: Italian Eclecticism; Impressionism origin; Picasso), related to the whole chronological period studied (the question range includes: the first the historic vanguard movements, the second the aftermath of World War I and the last one the period 1946-2013). The valuation is in thirtieth.
The mark includes one primary valuation based on the answers to the three questions, which can be little modified considering the whole knowledge of the subject.
The valuation is obviously based on the knowledge of the topic, the ability of visual reading (using historical criteria, not just emotional opinions), the critical approach to topics considering art or architectural works within the contemporary cultural setting, the ability of employing correctly technical terminology, the correct space-time outline of phenomenon singularly and in the whole historic period considered, the ability to propose comparisons on the base of a reasonable structuralism.
• methodological introduction;
• the Realist movement crisis;
• meaning of Vanguard;
• modernity of Eclecticism e Historicism;
• Impressionism various developments (with special attention on Divisionism);
• Expressionism, different types;
• Symbolism different ways;
• Post-Impressionism;
• New Art development (Art Nouveau, Sezession and Liberty, with special care to art and architecture works in Varese);
• Cubism;
• Futurism (special care to Italian ones);
• Abstract art;
• Rationalism (with special care of Italian monumental architecture due to Fascistic patronage);
• Contemporary Realism;
• New Vanguard Art movement (systematically);
• Post-modern architecture and art;
• Contemporary art (systematically).
Students have to show a deep knowledge of:
1. P. De Vecchi – L. Cerchiari, Arte nel tempo, Bompiani/Mondadori 1995, or following editions, including all chapters dedicated to the period indicated according to the different editions of the volumes.
2. A. De Micheli, Le avanguardie artistiche del Novecento, Feltrinelli, Milano, ed. 1988 and different editions of the volume.
3. Corpus 800 ca. slides available on the platform e-learning
Borrowed from
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