Art History has a distinguished heritage as a field of cultural, social, and intellectual history in the Humanities. Works of art and architecture are tangible documents that need to be assessed on their own merits and, simultaneously, as reflections of the human experience. Art History is an exploration of the visual arts, past and present, as forms of communication which are shaped by the physical, cultural, political, psychological and/or economic contexts in which the work of art or architecture was made. Our field seeks to understand works of art and architecture and their meanings on many levels.

Working in Drew’s Art History Visual Resources Library allows students to develop the skills necessary for art history and digital humanities in both museum and library settings. Our students develop a critical eye for the intrinsic quality of an image, while hands-on digitization familiarizes students with the latest technologies. Art history is a crucial part of the liberal arts. It nurtures your visual acuity and combines it with close, critical written analysis: skills that will benefit you in any field you pursue, especially in today’s media-rich environment. Our majors pursue careers in law, art law and cultural property, medicine, architectural preservation, education and linguistics, as well as M.A. and Ph.D. programs in art history.