AH 283 Special Topics in Modern and Contemporary Art

This course explores the themes of abstraction from the Middle Age to Contemporary art, with particular emphasis on the treatment of the abstract expressionism, the constructivism and minimalism as different expressions of the same intellectual thinking, ending up with abstract film and colour music. From the Middle Age on we will search for announcements of abstraction and for its theoretical background. Starting with Giotto and Cennino Cennini, we will analyze Leonardo?s sfumato based on his theories, which led directly to the late abstract period of Rembrandt. Showing the role of Turner and the Bauhaus and the Expressionism which gave essential contributions to abstract art.
Some of the questions we will address are: When did Abstraction start and what are theoretical thinking and ideas? What is the role of the colour and line in the process of abstraction in art? These and other questions will help us analyze the assigned authors and texts and understand their bases and motivations in dealing with problems of abstraction.