Art and Conflict: France & England 1700-1805

Catalog description

This course examines the complex blend of cultural exchange, rivalry and outright political hostility that coexisted between two major European powers in the eighteenth century: France and England. Through a close examination of a variety of art forms, including painting, sculpture, graphics, architecture, and decorative arts, students will learn how material culture provides unique evidence of societal interests, concerns and conflicts. The imperialist and commercial ambitions of both England and France will factor into our consideration of how art was valued and interpreted in the eighteenth century, and special attention will be paid to the ways in which the arts of both countries profited from, and indirectly referenced, enslaved labor in the Caribbean colonies. Honors College students only.