Broaden your intellectual and personal horizons through the study of art, design, and curatorial practice within a global perspective. Through critical, theoretical, and historical analysis, we encourage respectful awareness of––and engagement with–– our pluralistic community and enlightened understanding of your own material, visual, and cultural environments and your place within them.
Gain necessary skills and knowledge for a career as an art and design historian, a museum, gallery, or library professional, or to prepare for doctoral studies. By studying global art and design through multidisciplinary and cultural contexts and intensive specialized research, you’ll become an independent and critical thinker and writer, with an understanding of the historical role of art and design. Internships at museums, libraries, nonprofit art organizations, and galleries provide professional opportunities in your area of interest.
The Experience
IXD students Wuke Zhou, Yuki Shimano, and Olivia Turpin at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (photo by Shih Wen Huang)
Learning at the nexus of NYC arts and cultural communities, students in the History of Art and Design MA consider their discipline within larger social, cultural, and political contexts. With class sizes of just 8–12, you’ll collaborate closely with your cohort and faculty and work directly with museum collections and archives.
Internships
Internships at museums, libraries, nonprofit art organizations, and galleries provide professional opportunities in your area of interest and prepare you for future careers. Recent students have interned at prestigious institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and more.
Study Abroad
Immersing yourself in another culture is an unparalleled experience that can extend the boundaries of your intellectual abilities and creativity. Study abroad programs are an integral part of the college and graduate experience, and Pratt has deep connections with university partners around the world. Study in Paris with the Pratt in Paris summer program or in Venice with Pratt in Venice, a 6-week program that recently celebrated its 35th anniversary.
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
All full-time and part-time faculty are leading scholars and practitioners who are experts in their fields. They are deeply engaged in expanding their disciplines and building equity through their own work in the public, private and nonprofit sectors and bring their commitment, and their experience, into the classroom. 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 graduate studies in the History of Art and Design provide students with the skills and knowledge to pursue careers as art and design historians and professionals in museums, galleries, and libraries, or to pursue graduate work at the doctoral level. Through comprehensive study of global art and design within historical and cultural contexts and intensive research and scholarship in specialized areas, students develop a critical understanding of the field as well as research and analytical skills. Graduates demonstrate excellence in independent and critical thinking and understanding of the historical roles and responsibilities of art and design. Internships at museums, libraries, nonprofit art organizations, and galleries provide opportunities for students to work in professional areas of their interests and prepare for future careers.
