Art history, as part of history and culture and civilization studies, explores and communicates the unique characteristics, functions, and impacts of artworks in the areas of architecture, sculpture, painting, graphic design, and arts and crafts from Late Antiquity onward, as well as industrial designs, photography, and audiovisual media. The subject also examines its societal and political contexts. The core focus lies on European regions since Late Antiquity and their exchanges with non-European areas.
The BA program in art history as a major subject provides foundational knowledge of art historical content and methods, offering an overview of key epochs and genres, their discursive and social contexts, and major developments in the history of the discipline. Students learn to methodically and historically analyze, organize, and interpret artistic works and concepts of various kinds. The program aims to develop general skills such as precise observation and object analysis, accurate linguistic translation of visual, pictorial, and spatial phenomena, critical text analysis, and clear presentation of their historical contexts. At the same time, students become familiar with discipline-specific research tools and gain basic media literacy (e.g., image databases, presentations).