How an Art History Major Prepares You for the Job Market
An art history degree combines the elements of art appreciation, criticism and application with a strong emphasis on historical data, cultures and artists. Art history majors analyze and compare art from different centuries and learn about the historical events occurring at these times. Through careful analysis and close study of artists, art forms and media, art history students can identify contextual information by skillfully viewing artwork. Art history students are taught to look for specific elements that signify the artists' message and overall theme. A keen sense of detail and strong historical knowledge makes art history students unique in their skills. With proper training, art history majors can confidently critique and examine artwork from an authoritative stance.
Best Career Paths for Art History Majors
Art history remains a broad, yet skilled field for those who have a good eye for detail and historical knowledge of artists and various time periods.
- Art History Teacher. Art history teachers educate students on the historical development and context of art. Students will study major artwork, such as sculptures, paintings and architecture, as well as influential smaller art, like ceramics and sketches. It is the duty of an art history teacher to cover basic historical data and apply the context to how it shaped social, political and artistic life for that time period or today. Art history teachers also explore a deeper meaning behind art, including specific styles, symbols, themes and functionality. The curriculum will typically be divided into specializations based on eras and regions, with a further focus on media. By closely studying art, both students and teachers are able to view, examine and identify art from a more educated perspective. Art history is usually taught at the secondary and postsecondary level because students need to have a good amount of historical knowledge to understand the history of art. Art history teachers at the college and university level made about $65,960 in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Art Historian. Art historians are committed to researching the qualities, nature and history of artwork to better understand people, cultures and all other past influences on art. An art historian's main duty is to examine art in the context of its time. Historians do so by analyzing the criticisms and feedback of art patrons and sponsors, as well as compare the creator's work to the themes, symbols and styles of the creator's teachers, competitors and colleagues during this time. Essentially, an art historian analyzes artwork in the historical context within which it was created. Art historians use multiple forms of analysis and theory to study design elements and interpret the creator's message. Art historians closely study the creator's use of line, color, shape and texture, as well as the dimensional planes to determine whether the artwork is realistic, abstract, impressionism or expressionism. In return, they may communicate their findings in essays, articles and books for educational purposes. Historians made an average salary of $54,530 in 2008, according to the Bureau.
How to Market Your Art History Degree
You can market your art history degree by promoting the educational skills you acquired while in school. After years of training and education, you can successfully investigate historical events, people, cultures and religions to understand the context of artwork that was created during numerous time periods. You also have acquired a critical eye for looking at art, and are able to interpret the creator's message by analyzing design and thematic elements.
