Wednesdays, April 8 – April 29, 6 – 8pm
Anonymous. Dolls’ house of Petronella Oortman (detail), c. 1686–1710. BK-NM-1010 Rijksmuseum
$220; members $198
(4 classes)
About the Class
Did you know that some of the earliest books are tiny enough to conceal in the palm of your hand? Or that Andy Warhol made a model railroad, and Marcel Duchamp made art for a dollhouse? These artists were far from alone: for centuries, artists around the world have been crafting miniatures, from Japanese netsukes to intricately carved European rosaries and religious altarpieces.
What drives artists to make works on a tiny scale? Why are these objects so compelling? And how do art-making practices change when art becomes small? From ancient Egypt to Hans Holbein, Dutch dollhouses to Daumier, this class will use deep-zoom technology to shine a spotlight on the smallest art—including works from the Barnes collection and other notable museum collections—and help us discover why miniatures can feel like magic.
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.
Anonymous. Dolls’ house of Petronella Oortman, c. 1686–1710. BK-NM-1010 Rijksmuseum
Instructor
Julie Steiner
Steiner is a museum professional, writer, speaker, and practicing miniaturist. She has a degree in art from Smith College and studied art history at the Sorbonne. A longtime member of the Barnes staff, Steiner has worked in museums in education, curatorial, and operations departments. She is the author of A Short Biography of Paul Cézanne and Birds in the Barnes Foundation. She has been awarded Artisan status with the International Guild of Miniature Artisans and shares her miniature-making on Instagram under the name @ridiculoustinythings.
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
Go Further
Close-Looking Immersion: Cézanne’s Portrait of a Woman
Spend an hour with Cézanne’s haunting Portrait of a Woman. Instructor: William Perthes
Surrealism, Then and Now
Revisit the movement’s origin and global expansion and consider its legacy today. Instructor: Naina Saligram
Caravaggio: Revolutionary Painter of the Roman Baroque
Learn how Caravaggio rejected classical idealism for raw naturalism, fueling works with psychological intensity. Instructor: James Harper