AH 230 - Masters of the Riviera: Art and Inspiration in the South of France

This introductory Art History course explores the rich artistic heritage of the South of France in the 20^th century, by focusing on artists who lived and worked on the French Riviera. Students will critically analyze the works and contributions of major artists (such as Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Fernand Léger, Marc Chagall, and Francis Bacon) and be introduced to the French Riviera as an ongoing site of artistic production, still home to contemporary and street artists (including Yves Klein, Arman, Ben Vautier, and Ernest Pignon-Ernest) as well as to important art collectors and generations of fine arts students. Through a combination of lectures, museum visits, and class discussions, the course draws upon the cultural traditions and institutions characterizing the French Riviera to examine the socio-cultural and geographical influences of the region on artists and their work. Emphasis will be placed on situating the artists studied in relation to significant art movements such as Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, but also avant-gardes such as New Realism, Fluxus, and Support/Surface or the School of Nice movement. By the end of the course, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between place, culture, and artistic innovation, as well as be familiar with some of the greatest French artists and artworks of the 20^th century.