Art history basics
We understand the history of humanity through art. From prehistoric depictions of woolly mammoths to contemporary abstraction, artists have addressed their time and place in history and have expressed universal human truths for tens of thousands of years. Learn what made Rome great, how Islamic tile work evolved, why the Renaissance happened, and about the brilliant art being produced today around the globe. Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker of Smarthistory together with leading art historians, and our museum partners have created hundreds of short engaging conversational videos and articles, making Khan Academy one of the most accessible and extensive resources for the study of the history of art.
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First things first
New to art? This is a good place to start. Art gives us access to the way people at different moments in history have understood the world. Jump in and explore!
Tools for understanding art
Glossary
The materials and techniques artists use
Learn how the ancient Greeks fired their ceramics, how renaissance artists created luminous oil paintings and the techniques developed by modern masters.
Art 1010
Art 1010 is a short series of fun (and funny) animations created for the Utah System of Higher Education that introduce the history of Western art.