AH4191 Art, Science and Technology 1700-1900

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Module description

This module examines the relationship between art, science, and technology in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Although we will cover a diverse range of practitioners and objects from the Age of Enlightenment through to the rise of the modern era, this module is not a survey in the traditional sense. Instead, we will address a series of thematically grouped topics in loosely chronological order. Sample topics include anatomical diagrams, the chemistry of colour, industrial printmaking, and the prehistory of the cinema. In each case, we will consider the impact these developments had on the visual arts, addressing how artworks were influenced by and, in turn, responded to science and technology. This module will introduce students to key methodologies associated with the histories of science, media, and technology. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to think critically about how these methods might enhance, challenge, or transform our study of art.