ARTH 373 at the University of Maryland Global Campus (formerly ARTH 371) is a survey of the visual art of the Western world from 1300 to the present day.
UMGC describes it as examining and comparing the expression of cultural and aesthetic values in Europe and the United States. Like its companion course, its aims are to apply principles of visual literacy; to describe, analyze and contextualize the content and elements of art; and to differentiate historic periods and styles.
The course moves from the early Renaissance to contemporary art, so you meet a rapid succession of movements, each reacting to the last. Students often find the modern period the hardest, because the rules of representation keep changing. The key is to understand what each movement was trying to do and to explain how its visual choices achieve it.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Course code | ARTH 373 (formerly ARTH 371) |
| Credits | 3 |
| Span | Europe and the United States, 1300 to the present |
| Credit note | Credit for only one of ARTH 371 or ARTH 373 |
| Typical work | Visual analyses, comparisons, discussions, movement or theme papers |
Periods ARTH 373 Typically Spans
| Period or movement | What to recognize |
|---|---|
| Renaissance | Linear perspective, classical revival, humanism, oil painting in the North |
| Baroque | Drama, strong light and shadow, movement, religious and royal power |
| Rococo and Neoclassicism | Ornament and pleasure, then order and civic virtue |
| Romanticism and Realism | Emotion and nature, then ordinary life and social subjects |
| Impressionism and Post-Impressionism | Light, modern life, visible brushwork, personal expression |
| Modern movements | Cubism, Expressionism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism |
| Contemporary | Pop, Minimalism, conceptual, performance and installation art |
Key Skills Explained
Reading Change over Time
Movements often define themselves against what came before. Explaining that reaction is a powerful way to analyze a work.
Example: Compare a Neoclassical history painting with an Impressionist street scene. The first uses crisp outlines, a balanced composition and a moral subject from antiquity; the second uses broken brushwork, an off-center view and a fleeting moment of modern city life. The contrast shows a shift from art as moral instruction to art as personal perception of the present.
Context and Patronage
Who paid for a work and where it was shown, such as a church, court, Salon or gallery, shapes its subject and style.
Interpreting Abstraction
For non-representational art, analyze the formal elements directly (color, scale, gesture, process) and connect them to the artist's stated aims and historical moment.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Formal analysis | Visual literacy | Describe elements in order, then interpret |
| Comparison essay | Differentiating styles | Pair works with a shared subject across movements |
| Movement paper | Context and aims | Explain goals, key artists and representative works |
| Museum or virtual visit report | Applying skills to real works | Choose a few works and analyze them closely |
Writing a Strong Art History Paper
Open with a thesis that makes a claim about the work, not just a description, for example that a painting's composition turns a private scene into a political statement. Each paragraph should then link a visual observation to that claim. Identify works fully (artist, title, date, medium, collection) and use museum or scholarly sources for facts.
Avoid treating artists as isolated geniuses. Mention the workshop, market, patrons or critical debates that shaped their art; these details show the cultural and aesthetic values the course asks you to examine.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Movement confusion. Make a comparison chart of key features for neighboring movements.
- "My child could do that" responses. Explain what an abstract work does and why it mattered in its moment.
- Biography instead of analysis. Keep the artwork central.
- Weak image sources. Use museum images with full credits.
Study Tips for ARTH 373
- Keep a running timeline linking movements to historical events, such as revolutions, industrialization and the World Wars.
- Study works in pairs that show a shift in style.
- Learn key terms: chiaroscuro, sfumato, impasto, picture plane, readymade.
- Visit museum websites or galleries to see works at scale where you can.
How We Help with ARTH 373
Send the prompt, rubric, artworks and your notes or draft. A writer with an art history background can prepare a custom analysis or comparison, help you research a movement or edit your essay for argument and precision. Our compare and contrast essay guide explains how to structure comparison papers.
GradeEssays is independent of the University of Maryland Global Campus. Our help is a study and reference aid; you write and submit your own work under UMGC's academic integrity policy. Papers are written from scratch, plagiarism-checked and revised free within the original scope.
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Share the works, assignment and feedback. We help you build sharp visual analysis and connect each work to its period.
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Frequently Asked Questions
UMGC describes it as a survey of visual art in Europe and the United States from 1300 to the present day.
Yes. It is listed as formerly ARTH 371, and you can receive credit for only one of ARTH 371 or ARTH 373.
No prerequisite is listed in the catalog description, but the two courses are designed as a sequence and the skills overlap.
Describe color, line, scale, texture and process precisely, then connect those choices to the artist's aims and the historical moment.
A shared subject or theme, a clear thesis about what changed and why, and close visual evidence from both works.
Yes. A tutor can help you choose works and plan what to look for so you can write your own analysis.