5 Free Online Art History Courses You Should Take Right Now

School… Seeing your friends every day, hours of permanence, the cafeteria, the playground… Feeling a little nostalgic? What if we told you that you could find interesting teachers and the joy of learning new things again? Thanks to the emergence of online courses, you can! This practice has been democratized for a few years now. There is an infinite choice of courses, each more interesting than the other. To help you sort through the choices, Artsper has selected for you 5 free online art history courses that you should definitely take!

1. European Paintings: From Leonardo to Rembrandt to Goya – University of Carlos III of Madrid

Art enthusiasts, rejoice: European Paintings: From Leonardo to Rembrandt to Goya provides a solid foundation for recognizing the works of great masters from the 15th to the 19th century. This online course is a seven week program that you can follow at your own pace. With this course provided by the University Carlos III of Madrid, discover how to identify paintings of the period studied, develop your critical thinking, and much more!

2. Contemporary Art: The Art Explora Foundation’s free online art history course

What is contemporary art? Although you can discover it in all its forms on Artsper, this free online art history course helps you better understand the different artistic movements in art from the 1950s onwards. You will never see the time pass on this interactive and interesting platform, which offers 10-minutes sequences. The most studious of you can obtain a certification in art history from the Sorbonne-University at the end of these online courses. See you on Art Explora!

3. 16 architects who revolutionized the modern world: Artips Academy

Discover the buildings you see every day in a new light! You’ll find a wide variety of free online art history courses at Artips Academy, including this comprehensive course (available in English) on the architects who shaped our streets as we know them. From Antoni Gaudí to Jean Nouvel to Le Corbusier, you’ll be amazed.

4. In the Studio: Postwar Abstract painting at the MoMA 

This comprehensive course, organized by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, explains abstract art in a very simple way. A major artist of contemporary abstract art is introduced in each class, such as Yayoi Kusama or Jackson Pollock. The teachers present gallery visits and studio demonstrations with expertise and pedagogy.

5. Sexing the Canvas: Art and Gender at the University of Melbourne

Want to learn about gender theories? This free online art history course delivered by the University of Melbourne will make you an expert on the representation of gender in art. You will go through some of the world’s most beloved artworks and learn about the male and female gaze. Get ready to discover gender studies in art history!

Free online art history courses: a new way to learn

This content, often interactive and available at will, offers new ways to learn. In the digital age, museums are updating themselves to offer courses that are more complete, more accessible, and more certifiable. These playful approaches demystify and democratize access to knowledge and art while being entertaining. Do you already know which free online art history course you are going to register for?