Why is art history important? The art in all its manifestations constitutes an essential characteristic that identifies the human being, has allowed transmitting the culture in all its extensions and has been and is basic for its survival. Our plastic brain needs art. Already in the first years and naturally, the child plays, sings, dances, draws and all these activities are essential for proper sensory, motor, cognitive, emotional and ultimately brain development that will allow him to learn. And doing all these activities the child has fun, proudly shows his results to others, tries to improve and this is an effective way to train one of the great virtues of the human being: self-control. Artistic education is a necessity not only because it makes us smarter but because it allows us to acquire a whole series of competencies and mental routines that are in full harmony with the social nature of the human being and that are essential for learning any curricular content. And this is useful for all students, so it becomes a great way to address diversity in the classroom.
Keep reading, and we will explain the 5 reasons we think are most important for studying history through art.
1. It will bring you a common culture: studying art history lets you know the history of the most important artistic manifestations of every moment. You will understand how humanity has expressed its desires and how it has materialized the most complex and abstract concepts. You can easily start writing an essay on this topic.
2. You will learn to observe: we live in a society that is unable to observe and hardly pay attention to detail because reality comes before our eyes at a breakneck speed. Of course, if you need a service to write about it, essay on history is here so you can get free essay samples for your education online. The history of the arts will help you see reality from a different perspective, knowing how to interpret coded symbolism in cities, on their urban plots, in their sculptures, paintings and architecture.
3. You will know the origin: the history of art as a study of images and works of the past allows us to speculate on what our origin may be. From prehistoric cave paintings of Lascaux or Altamira and their beautiful depictions of bison to the art of Mesopotamia and Egypt with their zigguras and pyramids, we have enough material to feel overwhelmed by the mysteries they contain.
4. It is easier to understand history: if a picture is worth a thousand words, then answer to the question of why study art history should be: it is more effective than studying history without more. We live in visual culture, so it is highly recommended that schools study history through their images, not so much through their texts. If we want to put the face of Napoleon Bonaparte or Emperor Carlos V, we have the resources to do so. If we want to study the European geopolitical map during the seventeenth century, for example, we have to resort only to Velazquez, and if we want to understand the concept of beauty during the Renaissance in Italy, let’s look at Botticelli or Raphael to name just a few artists.
5. You will learn how to enjoy museums and monuments: How many times have you been to a museum and understood nothing? Does this situation sound familiar? We all went through it. It is very unfortunate that so many people visit museums without understanding the meaning of the works of art. If you want to make a difference, you already know what to do: learn the history of art.
No one can object that creative abilities have been an integral part of any person beginning from birth and also that these abilities exist as a gift from brain and are vital for learning process. It happens because the manifestation of any pieces of art is inseparably connected with emotional world which inspires an artist and permits him to reflect and depict all around him from his unique individual point of view. Education in Arts is significant as it gives students a possibility to obtain all necessary socio-emotional knowledge helping them to develop themselves and, in particular, to become self-realized. Such genuine kind of studying makes them ready for happy and full-fledged lives. Every human mind, every human soul appreciates the beauty and strives for creating art or, at least, being delighted by it.