The programme in Art History is meant for those who love to watch and read. Behind every objet d’art (piece of art) and every building a world of ideas, materials and techniques is hidden. Through time, every art object incites new reactions. All these different aspects of art are studied in the course of this programme. The Art History programme not only concentrates on drawings, paintings and statues, but also on photography, film and video art, gardens and city plans, furniture and utensils. One of the unique aspects of the Leiden programme is the fact that besides western art (beginning with the Greeks and Romans), other, non-western art traditions are also studied, such as the art forms of Asia and Africa. There are seven major areas of study within the programme: Classical Antiquity, Architectural History, Modern and Ancient Sculptures, Arts and Crafts and Industrial Design (the latter is again unique to the Leiden programme), and Non-Western & Comparative Art History. Moreover, students are offered courses on art techniques, iconography, and statue analysis and on subjects as diverse as art critique, preservation and restoration of monuments, museum management and the art trade. Early in the programme in Art History, students are given the opportunity to study the collection of the Leiden Prentenkabinet.

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