Pratt’s an exceptional place to study art and design history. From our landmarked campus you’ll have access to NYC’s premier international private collections, libraries, museums, studios, and galleries, as well as leading artists, designers, historians, and theorists.
Join us in New York City, the art capital of the United States, for an immersive education in the history of art and design. Specialized foundational, art and design history, and liberal arts courses prepare you to conduct research, critically analyze and describe works of art, and place them in their social context. Studios and electives in your chosen concentration provide an in-depth program of study and experiential learning opportunities to practice traditional and new visual arts techniques.
The Experience
Taking specially designed foundation and survey courses, students in the BFA program will engage with a range of liberal arts disciplines including philosophy, literature, and criticism of the history of art and design, as well as studio courses. You’ll collaborate closely with your team, faculty, and community partners to learn the skills needed to create strategies and systems that meet real-world challenges.
Electives and Seminars
You’ll have the opportunity to take electives in film and design, architecture, non-Western, pre-Renaissance, Renaissance to Rococo, and 19th-, 20th-, or 21st-century art, theory and methodology, and chemistry of art. Major-specific seminars are available from your first through senior years, on topics that include the role of New York as a cultural capital, critical and theoretical models, and art and social justice.
Study Abroad
Immersing yourself in another culture is an incredible experience that can extend the boundaries of creativity. Study abroad programs are an integral part of the college experience, and Pratt has deep connections with university partners around the world. Study in Paris with the Pratt in Paris summer program. We also recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of Pratt in Venice, which is a 6-week program that occurs each June and July. For more information on Study Abroad, visit Pratt’s Study Abroad page.
Learning Resources
We develop disciplinary fluency in our program of study and we celebrate the interdisciplinary nature of design critical to address the plurality and complexity of the environments in which we operate. Learn about resources.
Our Faculty
Pratt’s distinguished faculty of outstanding creative professionals and scholars share a common desire to develop each student’s potential and creativity to the fullest. Bringing different views, methods, and perspectives, they provide a rigorous educational model in which students make and learn. See all History of Art and Design faculty and administrators.
Our Alumni
Pratt’s distinguished alumni are leading diverse and thriving careers, addressing critical challenges and creating innovative work that reimagines our world.
Join us at Pratt. Learn more about admissions requirements, plan your visit, talk to a counselor, and start your application. Take the next step.
You’ll find yourself at home at Pratt. Learn more about our residence halls, student organizations, athletics, gallery exhibitions, events, the amazing City of New York and our Brooklyn neighborhood communities. Check us out.
The evolution of Western art is a story of creativity, innovation, and cultural transformation. From the idealized forms of ancient Greece and Rome to the spiritual intricacies of the Middle Ages, and finally to the humanistic revival of the Renaissance, each era brought new ways of seeing and depicting the world. Join us as we explore key moments and masterpieces that shaped art history, highlighting timeless works and groundbreaking techniques that continue to inspire today.
A journey through the foundations of Western art:
Classical Era: Idealized beauty & mythological themes.
Example: "Laocoön and His Sons" (c. 40-30 BCE)
Middle Ages: Art turned spiritual with intricate designs.
Example: The Book of Kells (c. 800 CE)
Renaissance: A rebirth of humanism, realism, and perspective.
Example: "The Birth of Venus" by Botticelli (c. 1485)
Innovations: Leonardo da Vinci redefined art with works like Mona Lisa (1503-1506) and The Last Supper (1495-1498).
#ArtHistory #RenaissanceArt #WesternArt #pratt
HAD’s Weekly Art:
Hilma af Klint’s Tree of Knowledge, No. 1 (1913-1915) is part of her groundbreaking series The Paintings for the Temple, where she explored the connection between the material and spiritual worlds. The tree symbolizes knowledge and wisdom, with vibrant colors and abstract forms that reflect her spiritual beliefs and interest in the unseen forces that shape life.
#HilmaAfKlint #AbstractArt #TreeOfKnowledge #ArtHistory
Image: Tree of Knowledge, No. 1 (1913-1915) by Hilma af Klint.
HAD’s Weekly Design History: The London Underground Map
Designer: Harry Beck (1933)
“Did you know? The London Underground map, designed by Harry Beck in 1933, revolutionized how we visualize public transport systems! Beck’s innovative approach simplified the chaotic network by using geometric shapes and a non-geographic layout, making it both functional and iconic. Today, it's one of the most recognized pieces of graphic design in the world!
Image 1,3: Beck's Underground Map of 1933
Image 2:Map of underground lines, 1908
#DesignHistory #IconicDesigns #GraphicDesign #pratt #prattinstitute
The history of art is the history of a great idea.’ — Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
Art is more than just visual expression; it’s a powerful narrative of human thought and evolution. Each work reflects the ideas and ideals of its time, leaving an enduring mark on history.
#ArtHistory #PhilosophyOfArt #ArtAndIdeas #Pratt
Weekly NYC Museum & Galleries, November 6 edition;
On November 16, Solid Gold exhibition at Brooklyn Museum opens.
“Opening on the occasion of the Brooklyn Museum’s 200th anniversary, Solid Gold features more than 500 works, pairing showpieces from the collection with stunning international loans. The fashion world’s embrace of gold will be seen in standout designs by Anna Sui, Christian Dior, Demna, Gianfranco Ferré, Giorgio di Sant’Angelo, Halston, Mary McFadden, The Blonds, Walter Van Beirendonck, and Yves Saint Laurent. Gold-ground paintings and sculptures, coins, and other treasures will sparkle alongside jewelry by Alexander Calder, Belperron, Cartier, Charles Loloma, Jacob & Co, and Verdura—as well as grillz by Gabby Elan. While celebrating the seductive magic of this luminous material, the exhibition will also confront darker histories, inviting frank discussions about the human and environmental costs of extracting gold ore from the earth. Solid Gold will immerse you in one of humankind’s most dazzling obsessions.” *
Kindly reach the details on Brooklyn Museum website.
#SolidGoldBkM #arthistory #designhistory #pratt #pratthad
Image: Greek. Wreath (details), 3rd–2nd century B.C.E. Gold. Brooklyn Museum; Gift of George D. Pratt, 26.763. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
* Source: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/solid-gold?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ENG%E2%80%94FY25%E2%80%9411%2F1November(General)&utm_content=version_A&promo=
Weekly Art&Design Movement:
"Egyptomania"
The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb on November 4, 1922, by British archaeologist Howard Carter, sparked a global fascination with Ancient Egyptian aesthetics, leading to a phenomenon known as "Egyptomania" that influenced various aspects of art, architecture, and design.
Influence on Art Deco
The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb coincided with the rise of the Art Deco movement, which incorporated many elements inspired by Ancient Egyptian design:
Architecture: Egyptian-style motifs integrated into Art Deco architecture, especially in public and commercial buildings.
Decorative Arts: The exquisite craftsmanship of Tutankhamun's grave goods inspired designers to incorporate Egyptian-inspired elements into furniture, fabrics, and jewelry.
Visual Language: Egyptian symbols and patterns became a part of the Art Deco visual vocabulary, dominating design trends until the mid-1930s.
In conclusion, the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb had a lasting impact on 20th-century design, influencing architecture, decorative arts, and popular culture. Its contents not only inspired a new aesthetic movement but also significantly contributed to our understanding of Ancient Egyptian civilization and craftsmanship.
Image 1: Detail of fabric from 1923. Source: Creative Commons.
Image 2: Tutankhamun’s tomb, innermost coffin, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c. 1323 B.C.E., gold with inlay of enamel and semiprecious stones (Egyptian Museum, Cairo)
Image 3: Cartier, London, brooch, dating from 1924. Source: Creative Commons.
Image 4: Advertisement for a French perfume aimed at the American market, dating June 1923. Source: Public Domain.
Image 5: Tutankhamun’s gold funerary portrait mask, topped with a cobra and a vulture. Source: Creative Commons.
#ArtHistory #DesignMovement #egyptology
The BFA program affords a grounding in the philosophy, literature, and criticism of the history of art and design. Students will take specially designed foundation courses and the survey classes. They will continue with additional credits in liberal arts (English, humanities, sciences, social sciences, and foreign language), studio, and electives. Majors will take upper-level electives in film and design, architecture, non-Western, pre-Renaissance, Renaissance to Rococo, and 19th-, 20th-, or 21st-century art. Theory and Methodology, Chemistry of Art, and a Senior Seminar are requirements for completion of the degree.
Undergraduates are competent in a broad range of knowledge in the history of cultures and their art.
Undergraduates understand that the meaning of works of art is tied to changes in social, political, and economic contexts through time.
Undergraduates will be able to demonstrate the necessary writing skills to analytically observe and describe works of art and the research skills to place art in its social context.
Undergraduates in the B.F.A. degree with studio training and experience learn traditional and innovative techniques in the manipulation of materials that generate artistic expression.
