Abstraction in Modern Art

About the Class

In the early 20th century, artists working independently from one another across geographic areas undertook a radical task: to devise a visual language devoid of references to the physical world—what today we call “abstraction.” This course explores the impulses that triggered abstraction in modern art, including the desire to express new forms of spirituality, reactions to cutting-edge technologies, and changing ideas about the human body and psyche. Studying the contributions of artists as diverse as Hilma af Klint, Paul Klee, Joan Miró, and Helen Frankenthaler, the course adopts a thematic approach to examine different forms of abstraction that came to life between the 1900s and 1950s.

The class is online-only. More about online classes.

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Barnes classes will:

• Sharpen your observational and critical thinking skills.
• Improve your ability to communicate about art.
• Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.

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What Our Students Say

“The instructor is a gifted individual who is able to [engage] with all different kinds of learners and motivate us to want to learn more, see more, and experience more. I would highly recommend any course by this instructor.” —Collection Concentration: Medieval Modern with Kaelin Jewell

“Martha Lucy knows how to balance her lecture with fact, excellent painting selections, and inclusion of the students.” —The Art and Life of Toulouse-Lautrec with Martha Lucy

“The best class to understand the elements of art. The instructor’s expertise and warmth, along with the excellent discussions with my classmates, made it a truly wonderful experience.” —The Elements of Art with William Perthes

“This class offered rich insight into Picasso and his contemporaries—the gallery scene, turn-of-the-century politics, Catalan culture, along with Picasso’s approach to composition and contemporary European culture. It was so informative.” —Picasso in Focus: New Discoveries at the Barnes with Christine Romano and Naina Saligram

“Caterina loves the material she presents and infuses all her classes—of which I have taken many—with that infectious enthusiasm.” —Rendez-vous au Café: Café Culture in 19th-Century Art with Caterina Pierre