Art History Curriculum

Teaching art history involves imparting knowledge and understanding of the evolution of visual culture throughout different historical periods, which extends beyond the mere identification of artists and their works; it delves into the contextual, cultural, and societal factors that have shaped art over time.

In this art history curriculum, get tips and strategies on how to teach the diverse range of artistic movements, styles, and regions, providing students with a comprehensive and global perspective.

See the fact file below for more information on the Art History Curriculum, or alternatively, you can download our 15-page Art History Curriculum worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Before we start:

• Watch a short video explainer about Art History. Download the PDF file to access the video link. 

What to consider

• Chronological overview – Art history is often taught chronologically, guiding learners through the development of artistic styles, techniques, and movements over different periods – from the early carvings of ancient civilizations to the contemporary methods of the modern world. 
• Cultural understanding and global connections – Art is inseparable from its historical, social, political, and cultural context. It involves exploring these contexts to help learners comprehend the motivations behind artistic movements and individual artworks, from survival records to emotional expressions. Furthermore, it is significant to acknowledge and explore the complexities of cultures beyond the West. 
• Inclusive representation – A commitment to inclusive representation ensures that a diverse range of artists, including those from underrepresented groups, promotes a more accurate and equitable portrayal of art history. 
• Contemporary relevance – Art history should not be confined to the past; it should have contemporary relevance that our learners can relate to. Drawing connections between historical artworks and current issues helps students see the enduring impact of art on society.   

How to deliver

• Teaching and learning about art history can be as vibrant as the art pieces we see in museums and as engaging as its history. The expressionist and highly emotionally charged works of Vincent Van Gogh, such as the Starry Night and Sunflowers, have different motivations than our early ancestors who carved their bison hunts in stones, caves, and even bones. 
• While art and history are complex enough individually, letting our learners understand each concept is significant. Devise a thought bubble where they can share ideas in terms and phrases of their understanding of art and history. Below is an example of a thought bubble gathering the learners’ schema of Art and History, as separate concepts. 

• From their responses, draw the meaning of art history as a combined study. You may go as simple and direct as “Art history as the study of visual art and its development over time”, or with more details, “Art history is the examination and analysis of various artistic movements, styles, and individual works of art, including painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, and more across time.”
• They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Recapture learners’ attention with images of art pieces across time, either through multimedia presentations or gallery walks. Let them infer the mystical features of the Haniwa Figures of ancient Japan or the symmetry of Roman sculpture.
• A timeline is another effective strategy for establishing the inseparable bond of art and history. Chronology is always best served in easy-to-understand visuals without the overwhelming chunks of text but capturing the significance of time in art’s evolution over time. Below is an example of a simple timeline showing the art movements over time. Note that the example is not a complete and official timeline of art history. 

• Art is inseparable from its historical, social, political, and cultural context. Teaching art history involves exploring these contexts to help learners comprehend the reasons behind artistic movements and individual artworks. While the art legacies of ancient Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans are mostly celebrated, a holistic art history education goes beyond Eurocentrism, incorporating a diverse array of cultures, artists, and traditions from around the world. This global perspective guides learners appreciate the universality of artistic expression.
• For example, while the Western world during the Medieval period was tied to Christianity and the Church, evident in paintings, manuscripts, mosaics, and stained glass, the Yuan Dynasty’s artists and calligraphers shifted from the subjects of social life to landscape and nature.   
• Aside from observing the main features of the artworks, it is significant to throw processing questions to deepen the learners’ historical understanding of the time. Sample questions may include:
  • How did medieval Europe’s and traditional China’s cultural and societal contexts influence their respective art forms?
  • In what ways did their beliefs impact the subject matter and themes in medieval European art and traditional Chinese art?
  • Compare the techniques in medieval European illuminated manuscripts with traditional Chinese scroll paintings. How did the function and purpose of these artworks differ?
• Amidst art’s dispersed historical and cultural perspectives, global connections are revolutionary even before the emergence of the internet and social media. Old-school trading in wagons along the highly coveted Constantinople and the Silk Road led to the spread of Islamic art to Europe. Renowned for its intricate geometric patterns, vibrant colors and arabesques, Islamic art influenced Western decorative arts, appearing in textiles, ceramics, and illuminated manuscripts during the Medieval times. Furthermore, arches, courtyard designs, and even scientific illustrations until the Renaissance were evident. 
• In more recent times, we can highlight how African art influenced the works of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque and the emergence of Cubism, or the introduction of Japanese woodblock prints, called ukiuo-e to Europe and how it inspired impressionist Claude Monet and Art Nouveau artist Edouard Manet.
• As art often conveys an artist’s thoughts, emotions, and opinions, another teaching strategy is a biography, highlighting the artist’s personal stories. Besides the well-glorified artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keefe, Henri Matisse, and the like, a more inclusive art history education featuring women, people with disabilities, and indigenous artists is as exciting and vibrant.  
• Take a leap with Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi and her Self-portrait as the Allegory of Painting. Examine the endeavors of Sofonisba Anguissola, a Renaissance painter, as she conquered arts along with male contemporaries, such as Michelangelo. Navigate the genetic condition of post-impressionist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec as he revolutionized the art of printmaking.  
• Our learners can do a collaborative artist catalogue or a public art project showing the life and works of their influential artists. From school-based art exhibits to murals and installations, they can bring art history to a broader audience and promote a sense of teamwork and community involvement while expressing their creativity. Below is a sample of an artist catalogue. 

• Far from the subjects of pop art, like a can of Campbell’s soup, in the 1950s and 60s, our ancient ancestors, before the dawn of the recorded history, left cave paintings and petroglyphs showing their means of survival and the general relations between them and the environment. 
• From the simple hand stencils and symbolic patterns in cave paintings of Sulawesi, Indonesia, around approximately 40,000 years ago to the earliest known cave art in Europe, found in Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc, France, art suggests that early humans engaged in complex symbolic expression long before the development of written language. When consumerism and mass media succumbed to the American and British societies, pop culture introduced product packaging and comic strips. So, other than discussing each art movement’s features and artworks, we can tweak it into a cross-analysis activity, highlighting not only the evolution in style and form but also the motivations behind the expressions. 
• While unearthing the motivations behind the art pieces, visual analysis workshops can also help them examine the composition and symbolism of an art piece. For example, let them explore the perspective of beauty and illusions during the Renaissance in the works of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. Navigate the emergence of Surrealism, its metaphorical representations, exploration of the subconscious, and rebellion against societal norms in the works of Salvador Dali and Frida Kahlo. 
• In addition to multimedia presentations, gallery walks, artist catalogues, visual analysis workshops, and exhibitions, the learners can also do reflective journals, educational tours to museums, and cross-curricular projects, such as integrating art history to the French Revolution like Delacroix or da Vinci’s exploration of the human anatomy in his Vitruvian man. 

Learning outcomes

• Studying art history can lead to various learning outcomes beyond simply acquiring knowledge about artworks and artists. At the end of the lesson, learners are expected to strengthen their understanding of diverse cultures, historical contexts, and societal values by examining art from different periods and regions.
• Art history also aims to develop historical literacy by understanding how art reflects and responds to historical events, movements, and cultural shifts. Furthermore, it is an effective medium for recognizing and exploring interdisciplinary connections between art and other fields, such as literature, philosophy, science, and politics.
• Learners can also gain inspiration from historical and contemporary artistic movements to stimulate creative thinking and innovation in various disciplines. 
• Today, art therapy is gaining popularity as it helps individuals improve and enhance their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It provides a therapeutic outlet for self-expression, exploration, and healing. 

Art History Curriculum Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Art History Curriculum across 15 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Art History Curriculum worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Art History, which delves into the contextual, cultural, and societal factors that have shaped art over time. In this art history curriculum, get tips and strategies on how to teach the diverse range of artistic movements, styles, and regions, providing students with a comprehensive and global perspective.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

• Teaching Art History
  1. Short video explainer
  2. What to consider
  3. How to deliver
  4. Learning outcomes
• Lesson Plan Template
• Suggested Worksheet

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