Appreciate art through learning

Our Art History courses will give you a deeper understanding of what you're looking at. When it comes to art, everyone's has their own opinion on which artist is better than the other, and what their most famous work signifies.

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Through exploring the world of art history, you'll be learning about why pieces are made in the first place and what the pieces mean. You will also examine how that’s changed over a period of time, as well as the impact it’s had on society. 

You’ll be taught about many of the aspects from the art creation process, such as the materials used in artworks, and how different kinds of artists contribute differently in expressing their ideas through freehand drawing or digital media. 

Whether you're a seasoned art appreciator or a newbie, there's something here for everyone. From exploring art painted by Salvador Dali or learning all about the history of Nordic Art from the Viking era, we have a selection of online and in-person art history courses from different decades to choose from.  

Attend an Art History course near you  

Whether you choose to learn from the comfort of your own home, or opt for a space in your local community, you’ll be taught by a talented tutor who is an expert in their field. 

The support you’ll receive on our Art History courses

Your tutor will encourage you to develop an understanding of Art History that goes beyond what's on the surface, motivating you to truly immerse yourself in the subject. It’s our learning experience that sets us apart too, with an encouraging environment that ensures you attend each session with the excitement to learn.   

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History: Art and Experiment - The Avant-Gardes From Fauvism to Constructivism

This course explores the effervescent avant-garde scenes in Europe and the U.S., at the beginning of the 20th century (from 1905 to 1924). It saw an incredibly rapid succession of art movements. From Fauvism to Constructivism, avant-garde artists relentlessly explored uncharted territories and redefined what art is: Can a urinal become a work of art? What about a black square on a white? You will study iconic works of art, created by artists like Picasso and Matisse, Sonia and Robert Delaunay, Hans Arp, Marcel Duchamp, Walter Gropius, Natalya Goncharova and many more. In doing so you will deepen you understanding of this incredible and fundamental artistic period.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 10/01/2024 -
Wed 27/03/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00012265
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Art Appreciation: Women War Artists

Women war artists are notable by their absence from many overviews of war paintings. This course sets out to redress that omission. The course explores artists such as Elizabeth Southerden Thompson Butler, Clare Atwood, Hannah Hoch, Kathe Hollwitz, Angeles Torner Cevera, Rosario de Velasco and Evelyn Dunbar thinking about art works they produced before, during and after the war, and the different media they used to produce this artwork- pencil, oils and print. Please note that there are some graphic images within this course, so this may not suit everyone. The tutor will, however, create a safe, relaxed environment during the session.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 10/01/2024 -
Wed 13/03/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
St John the Baptist Church Meeting Room
55 Main Road
Danbury
CM3 4NG
Tutor:
Sue Pownall
Course code:
Q00012241
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

Art Appreciation: Eric Ravilious and the Artistic Community of Great Bardfield

This course explores fascinating artworks made by Eric Ravilious and other artists in Great Bardfield.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 11/01/2024 -
Thu 08/02/2024
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Tutor:
Rosanna Eckersley
Course code:
Q00012183
How you'll learn:
Online
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Art Appreciation: Art History - Barbara Hepworth: Modern Nature

Discover in-depth the life and art of Barbara Hepworth, a leading artist of 20th century British and international modern art. Hepworth is one of the most celebrated British artists of the 20th century whose sculptures, drawings and prints are recognised internationally. On this course we explore how and why she refined her practice, in a career spanning over 50 years. This course will suit you if you are new to Hepworth’s work, or if you are already familiar with her practice. We will explore key examples of her sculpture in marble and bronze, as well as her drawings and prints.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 11/01/2024 -
Thu 07/03/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Wesley Hall (Barnet)
High Barnet Methodist Church
9 Stapylton Road
Barnet
EN5 4JJ
Tutor:
Chantal Condron
Course code:
Q00012108
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £80.00

WEA Membership

For just £15 a year, you can:

  • Join our popular, award-winning weekly lecture series,
  • Access an archive of over 100 past lectures,
  • Get priority online and phone booking for autumn courses (England only),
  • Receive our Highway magazine and access back issues,
  • Attend our members’ annual conference.

Just add us to your basket to sign up today!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
WEA Membership

Art Appreciation: Exploring Scottish Art Part 2

Join us to explore developments in Scottish Art during the 19th Century from Victorian narrative to the influences of Impressionism. The course will consider the way these artists reflected the contemporary social & cultural context. We will analyse the way artists' styles evolved over this period culminating in what the contemporary establishment considered revolutionary in the stylistic practices of Impressionism. This course is for learners who have an interest in this period of Scottish Art & some previous study of Art. The course material will comprehensively cover a cross section of the changes in Scottish Art from the mid to late 19th century considering the way they relate to each other.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 11/01/2024 -
Thu 21/03/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Tutor:
Rachel Holland-Hargreaves
Course code:
Q00013100
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

History: Regional Histories - Spanish Art from Altamira Cave to Sorolla and Rusiñol

Come and learn about Spanish art! This course will take you from cave paintings and Visigothic art to the Golden age and finally to the 19th century with the Impressionist Sorolla and the Catalan modernist Rusiñol. It will be the occasion to study well-known works of art (Las Meninas), artists (Picasso), and sites (Granada’s Alhambra), but also lesser-known artists like the still-life painter Juan Sánchez Cotán. All these artists and their works will be studied in their social and historical context, which will be the occasion to learn about the country’s history, geography, and regional identities. As a result, this survey will deepen your understanding of Spanish art, history, and culture.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 12/01/2024 -
Fri 22/03/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00012269
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
1 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Art Appreciation: Leonardo Da Vinci: Artists and Inventor

If you are interested in art, this online course will explore the diverse range of work produced by Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, from his religious subjects and portraiture to the visual proof of his creative thinking through his prolific drawings. The course is fully illustrated with plenty of opportunity for discussion throughout. Course benefits include understanding the background of Leonarda da Vinci and examining the Mona Lisa painting to establish what is known about this iconic and enigmatic image.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 12/01/2024 -
Fri 09/02/2024
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
5 sessions
Tutor:
Rachel Holland-Hargreaves
Course code:
Q00012790
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Art Appreciation: Power and Influence: Great Artists

An exciting course exploring the work of a range of great artists who initiated significant developments in the art of their age and who set the stage for the modern era of painting. The course will help you to learn about the work of Titian, Albrecht Durer, El Greco, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Velazquez and Goya. Topics will include learning about the influence of the aesthetic, social, cultural and political context of their times, and the art historical terms used to describe their work. No experience necessary, just an open-minded interest in art.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 15/01/2024 -
Mon 04/03/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Tutor:
Janis Baker
Course code:
Q00012449
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £51.80

Art Appreciation: Women Artists - from Morisot to Kusama

This course focuses on women artists from the 19th century to the present, with a focus on modern art. This period starts with the fight for access to the best artistic education. It is also the time of “the New Woman”, independent and career-focused. In art, the second half of the 19th century marks a significant increase in the number of professional women artists. Starting with the women of the Impressionist movement, you will learn about many great painters and sculptors. Based on the study of their lives and career, you will gain a greater understanding of the conditions in which these women became successful artists, and the obstacles that paved their ways.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 15/01/2024 -
Mon 18/03/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00012228
How you'll learn:
Online
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £74.00

History: Seeing and Interpreting Architecture

In this – mostly European – survey, we will study some iconic buildings that came to define their respective periods in terms of ideas, styles, and techniques. This will help develop your ability to see and understand a building’s architectural features. The course will follow a chronological progression and will be based on the study of famous buildings from the Gizeh Pyramid and Parthenon to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. For each example, you will study the way it is built, its style, and the relation between the building’s form and its purpose.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 15/01/2024 -
Mon 18/03/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Tutor:
Caroline Levisse
Course code:
Q00012263
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
4 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00