It is often assumed that periods of war and revolution destroy artistic creativity. While many artists and collections have indeed been lost during times of upheaval, history also shows that conflict and revolution can stimulate remarkable artistic innovation. This course examines artists who responded creatively to turbulent periods, from Jacques-Louis David and the French Revolution to artists involved in revolutionary movements in Russia, China, Britain and America. Discover how art has not only survived periods of crisis but has often helped societies imagine and shape new futures.

DELIVERY MODE

Face to face

COURSE RESOURCES

• Zara Anishanslin, 'The Painter's Fire'
• Evgeny Steiner, 'Stories for Little Comrades'
• Beatrice Gullstrom, 'Revolution: Russian Art 1917-1932'

COURSE OUTLINE

• Testing official norms and forms in art
• Locating the artist as insider/outsider
• Locating the materials and formats of revolutionary art
• Tracing the post revolutionary history of collecting and exhibiting art

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Think about the context for commissioning, holding and exhibiting art, place art and artists within their historical context