Primitivism and Modern Art
Fridays, November 7 – December 5, 2 – 4pm
Paul Gauguin. Haere Pape (detail), 1892. The Barnes Foundation, BF109. Public Domain.
$220; members $198
(4 classes; no class Nov. 28)
About the Class
Artists like Picasso and Gauguin looked beyond Europe for inspiration, drawing on African and Oceanic art to revolutionize modern art. This course investigates the complex legacy of primitivism, focusing on how these influences were interpreted, appropriated, or reimagined across the 20th century. Using the Barnes collection as a case study, we will explore how institutions shaped the reception of so-called “primitive” art—and how African American artists and scholars like Aaron Douglas and Alain Locke reframed those categories toward their own modernist project. We’ll also examine self-taught artists who defied labels, including Rousseau, Pippin, and Edmondson. This is a timely and critical look at the intersections of race, identity, and visual culture.
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.
Instructor
Alison Boyd
Boyd is director of research and interpretation at the Barnes. She studies the intersection of multiple modernisms in American and European art in the first half of the 20th century, with a focus on the arts of the African diaspora and the politics of museum display. Boyd contributed to the 2023 publication The Barnes Then and Now: Dialogues on Education, Installation, and Social Justice.
What Our Students Say
“The instructor was superb. Her level of expertise, along with enthusiasm for the subject, made the class what it was.” Close-Looking Immersion: Picasso’s “Violin, Sheet Music, and Bottle” with Naina Saligram
“Dr. Boyd’s knowledge, passion, and openness made her an excellent instructor for this course. It was well structured and beautifully taught!” Horace Pippin’s Modernism with Alison Boyd
“Dr. Galvez is a wonderful teacher—knowledgeable, knows how to teach the concepts, gives examples, explains concepts and ways of considering them while looking at a painting. He is open to questions and receives them with patience.” Chromophilia: Modern Art and the Re-Invention of Color with Paul Galvez
“Kaelin Jewell is amazing. She is engaging and super knowledgeable, and she clearly enjoys teaching.” Heaven on Earth: The Art of the Byzantine Empire with Kaelin Jewell
“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 Bill Perthes
Go Further
Close-Looking Immersion: Persian Manuscript Rustam Lifts Qanun from His Horse
Immerse yourself in a tiny 16th-century Persian manuscript from the Barnes collection. Instructor: Naina Saligram
Exhibition Seminar: Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets
Explore the dreamlike imagery of Henri Rousseau face-to-face in our exhibition gallery. Instructor: Martha Lucy
The Garden Design of Piet Oudolf
Explore the naturalistic design philosophy of Piet Oudolf, whose iconic projects include New York’s High Line and the newly planted Calder Gardens. Instructors: Erin Monda, Andrew Bunting