NCEA Level 2 Art History

Aims

History of Art aims to introduce students to a study of the works of artists (mainly painters, but also some sculptors, photographers and architects), from different times and different societies.

Course Content

Students study a variety of artists, their works and their lives to learn more about the art and the society in which they lived. This gives students a greater insight into how the art of today has developed from the art of the past.

For 2018 the artists and art works for Level 2 Art History will be chosen from the following:

Towards Modernism (1780 - 1900) This topic examines the development of art in France and introduces students to art movements such as Impressionism, Realism, Romanticism, Neoclassicism, Post-Impressionism and Art Noveau, and the work of famous artists including Van Gogh, Cezanne, Degas, Gauguin, Rodin and others. The influence of events such as the French Revolution and the growth of Paris as an art centre are also studied.

Aotearoa and the Pacific (1800 - 1950) This topic introduces students to the beginnings of New Zealand and Pacific art, and how different backgrounds and cultural traditions influenced the art of the period. The work of early European artists such as Goldie, Charles Heaphy and John Gully are studied as well as later artists such as Rita Angus, William Sutton, Doris Lusk and others. This topic allows students to carry out research using the resources of the Dunedin Art Gallery and Hocken Collection.

Both topics provide ideal support to Level 2 Painting and Level 2 Photography as well as excellent background for Level 3 Art History and Level 3 Visual Arts.

Qualification gained

Full course completion — 24 credits in NCEA Art History Level 2

This subject has links with

Visual Art Painting, Photography, History

Entry Requirements

NCEA Level 1 Literacy

Next Step

Art History can be continued at Level 3, University as a full subject and at Polytechnic as part of several Art and Design courses.