History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology Commons^™

Nineteenth Century American Painting: An Evolution In Value, Marguerite P. Walker

Theses

This thesis explores the significant transformation in the market value and cultural appreciation of nineteenth century American paintings. Marguerite P. Walker investigates the historical, social, and economic factors that contributed to the evolving status of American art from a marginalized, undervalued genre to one recognized for its artistic and monetary worth. Initially viewed as crude and provincial in comparison to European works, American paintings from this period suffered from widespread prejudice. However, shifts in national identity, increased art education, and the rise of a domestic art market spurred interest in American subjects, particularly landscapes and genre scenes reflecting national pride …

The Japanese Influence On Impressionism And Post-Impressionism, Maribeth Selvig

Student Scholarship

This paper examines the transformative effect of Japanese art on Western painting during the late nineteenth century, a phenomenon that shifted the trajectory of modern art. Following centuries of isolation, Japan's reopening in the 1850s led to an influx of goods and woodcut prints into Europe. These works, particularly the Hokusai Manga, introduced French artists to entirely new methods of artistic thought. The movement began with the collection of Japanese objects and evolved into a deep study of composition, line, and color application. 

The influence on Impressionism is evidenced by the adoption of specific aesthetic characteristics. Artists like Edgar Degas …

United States Participation In The International Exchange Of Graphic Arts: A Case Study In Two Organizations, Judith Ann Winburn

Student Scholarship

This research paper examines the organizational structures and specific programs through which the United States participates in the international exchange of graphic arts, focusing primarily on UNESCO and the Fine Arts Committee of the People to People Program. UNESCO operates as an intergovernmental organization where the Secretariat and Director-General oversee daily functions, while national commissions, such as the United States National Commission, implement programs and advise their respective governments. The commission is composed of representatives from private interest groups and government, working through committees to provide a link between the international body and domestic organizations. 

A major component of UNESCO's …

A Study Of The History, Organization, And Functions Of The National Gallery Of Art, Judy Glover

Student Scholarship

This paper examines the history, organization, and functions of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D. C.. Established by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1937, the gallery was founded through the philanthropy of Andrew W. Mellon, who donated his extensive collection of masterpieces and financed the construction of a building to house them. Mellon intended for the institution to encourage a study and appreciation of the fine arts among the American people. The facility, designed by architect John Russell Pope in the classic Greek and Roman traditions, is notable for being the largest marble structure in the world, …

The Visual Arts Section Of The Pan American Union, Nancy Kay Mcdaniel

Student Scholarship

This paper provides a detailed examination of the Visual Arts Section of the Pan American Union and its role within the broader Organization of American States. The study begins by contextualizing the section within the history of inter-American cooperation, tracing the evolution of the OAS from Simon Bolivar’s 1826 Congress of Panama to the formal signing of the OAS Charter in 1948. The author explains that the Pan American Union serves as the permanent central organ and General Secretariat for the OAS, housing various departments including the Department of Cultural Affairs. 

The core of the research focuses on the Visual …