Pratt’s an exceptional place to study art and design history. From our landmarked campus you’ll have access to NYC’s premier international private collections, libraries, museums, studios, and galleries, as well as leading artists, designers, historians, and theorists.
History of Art and Design at Pratt
Join us in New York City, the art capital of the United States, for an immersive education in the history of art and design. Specialized foundational, art and design history, and liberal arts courses prepare you to conduct research, critically analyze and describe works of art, and place them in their social context. Studios and electives in your chosen concentration provide an in-depth program of study and experiential learning opportunities to practice traditional and new visual arts techniques.
The Experience
Taking specially designed foundation and survey courses, students in the BFA program will engage with a range of liberal arts disciplines including philosophy, literature, and criticism of the history of art and design, as well as studio courses. You’ll collaborate closely with your team, faculty, and community partners to learn the skills needed to create strategies and systems that meet real-world challenges.
Electives and Seminars
You’ll have the opportunity to take electives in film and design, architecture, non-Western, pre-Renaissance, Renaissance to Rococo, and 19th-, 20th-, or 21st-century art, theory and methodology, and chemistry of art. Major-specific seminars are available from your first through senior years, on topics that include the role of New York as a cultural capital, critical and theoretical models, and art and social justice.
Study Abroad
Immersing yourself in another culture is an incredible experience that can extend the boundaries of creativity. Study abroad programs are an integral part of the college experience, and Pratt has deep connections with university partners around the world. Study in Paris with the Pratt in Paris summer program. We also recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of Pratt in Venice, which is a 6-week program that occurs each June and July. For more information on Study Abroad, visit Pratt’s Study Abroad page.
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
Pratt’s distinguished faculty of outstanding creative professionals and scholars share a common desire to develop each student’s potential and creativity to the fullest. Bringing different views, methods, and perspectives, they provide a rigorous educational model in which students make and learn. 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.
Success Stories
Ready for More?
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You are invited to an HAD Faculty Conversations by Marsha Morton, “Ernst Haeckel’s Travels through Nineteenth-Century Ceylon: Eurocentric Views of Race and Place”
* This event is for Pratt community.
Date: Tuesday, March 25th, 2025
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Venue: Main 212
About the Project: The marine zoologist Ernst Haeckel was renowned as the “German Darwin” and author-illustrator of Art Forms in Nature. Less well known is his activity as an amateur anthropologist following his trip to Ceylon and publications of the travelogue Indische Reisebriefe (1883) and picture book Wanderbilder (1905) that contains his painted tropical scenes and photographs of the native population. As I will demonstrate, these convey alterity and evolutionary hierarchy from a privileged gaze with texts characterized by essentialized descriptions and racial bias resulting from a non-diaologic “rhetoric of vision.” Wanderbilder is informed by the Eurocentric perspective of picturesque theory and the nature-culture binary of the Lebensreform movement and colonialism.
About the Speaker: Marsha Morton’s work is centered on German and Austrian cultural history with a focus on the interdisciplinary topics of art, science (Darwin), anthropology, Orientalism, and music. In addition to numerous published essays, including three on Ernst Haeckel, her books are: Max Klinger and Wilhelmine Culture (Ashgate 2014) and the co-edited anthologies Visual Culture and Pandemic Disease since 1750 (Routledge 2023), Constructing Race on the Borders of Europe: Ethnography, Anthropology, and Visual Culture, 1850-1930 (Bloomsbury 2021), and The Arts Entwined: Music and Painting in the Nineteenth Century (Garland 2000). She is the recipient of grants from the National Endowments for the Humanities and DAAD.
3 days ago
You are invited to “A Conversation with Heiny Srour.”
* This event is for Pratt community.v
Thursday, March 13th, 2025
5:45 – 7:00 pm
Myrtle Hall, 4th Floor, MH 4E-03 DDA
Open to the Pratt community
On the occasion of two new restorations screening at BAM, Lebanese director Heiny Srour will visit Pratt to discuss her work with faculty and students.
Born in 1945 in Beirut, Srour studied Social Anthropology in Paris, where she worked as a journalist and developed an interest in Third World Cinema. To make her first film, The Hour of Liberation Has Arrived (1974), Srour documented a revolutionary feminist uprising against the British-backed Sultanate of Oman. Her next feature, Leila and the Wolves (1984), combines fictional drama, archival footage, and fantasy sequences, and follows a young Lebanese woman in modern London as she time-travels through the 20th century, observing the place of Arab women in anti-colonial movements.
Organized by Olivia Crough (Visiting Assistant Professor, HAD) for the course History of Film, in collaboration with Graham Carter (Several Futures) – contact ocrough@pratt.edu with questions.
5 days ago
Celebrating the masterful Charles Le Brun, born February 24, 1619! Known as the 'Great Decorator,' Le Brun's visionary work defined the grandeur of the French Baroque era, leaving an indelible mark on the Palace of Versailles and beyond. His legacy continues to inspire. #ArtistOfTheMonth #charleslebrun #baroquemastery
1 week ago
Art History 101: Part 2 - Baroque to Romanticism
The Baroque Era
The Baroque period (1600-1750) introduced drama and emotion in art, with artists using bold contrasts and movement to engage viewers.
Example: Rembrandt van Rijn, The Night Watch, 1642, oil on canvas, 379.5 x 453.5 cm (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)
Chiaroscuro Technique
Caravaggio was a master of chiaroscuro, creating striking contrasts between light and dark that added depth to his compositions.
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, Calling of Saint Matthew, oil on canvas, c. 1599–1600 (Contarelli Chapel, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome)
Neoclassicism Emerges
In reaction to Baroque excess, Neoclassicism revived classical ideals, focusing on simplicity and symmetry while drawing inspiration from ancient Rome and Greece.
Jacques-Louis David, Oath of the Horatii, 1784, oil on canvas, 3.3 x 4.25 m, painted in Rome, exhibited at the salon of 1785 (Musée du Louvre)
The Rise of Romanticism
Romanticism (late 18th century) celebrated emotion, nature, and individualism, often depicting dramatic landscapes and historical events.
Example: "The Wanderer above the Sea of Fog" by Caspar David Friedrich (1818)
2 weeks ago
You are invited to "A Vida Portuguesa: Portuguese Art and Design Symposium."
Date: Friday, March 7th
Time: 3:00 to 5:00 pm
Venue: Alumni Reading Room
About the Project: A Vida Portuguesa, the renowned Lisbon-based shop founded by Catarina Portas in 2007, is celebrated for its mission to preserve Portugal’s artisanal traditions while offering a modern perspective on design. In collaboration with the MoMA Design Store, A Vida Portuguesa opened a Pop-Up Shop that brings an exclusive assortment of the shop’s handcrafted designs to the United States. This series of talks at Pratt features Portuguese history and culture and reflects on its artistry and contemporary design.
A Vida Portuguesa: Why and How to Make a Shop by Catarina Portas and Nuno Coelho
Can a Country’s History be Told Through its Brands? Unpacking Portugal’s 20th- Century History through Packaging Design by Nuno Coelho
Touch by Jorge Colombo
PALAVRAS EMPRESTADAS, from under the orange tree by Analia Segal
*A visit to the MoMA Design Store Pop-Up Shop (January 8th—March 10th) is recommended for attendants to have the opportunity to experience designs from A Vida Portuguesa first hand.
Please RSVP using the link in bio.
2 weeks ago
Pentimento: The Ghosts of Art’s Past
Definition:
Pentimento (plural: pentimenti) refers to a visible trace or alteration in a painting, where an earlier version, design, or element has been painted over but becomes visible again as the top layer of paint ages and becomes more transparent over time. This phenomenon provides insights into the artist’s process and reveals changes made during the creation of the artwork.
Image 1: Jan Van Eyck, The Arnolfini Portrait, 1434, tempera and oil on oak panel, 82.2 x 60 cm (National Gallery, London)
Image 2: Arnolfini Wedding Portrait by Jan van Eyck (left), detail of infrared scans of Arnolfini Wedding Portrait (right); Courtesy: Principle Gallery
4 weeks ago
On this day celebrating love, the I ♥ NY logo reminds us how a few simple elements can create a deep sense of pride and belonging, proving that design can be both emotional and iconic.
Created in 1977 by graphic designer Milton Glaser, the 'I ♥ NY' logo is one of the most recognizable and enduring symbols in graphic design history. Originally commissioned as part of a campaign to boost tourism, it quickly became a global symbol of New York City’s bold spirit and resilience.
Key Highlights:
Simple and Iconic Design: The logo features the phrase "I ♥ NY" with a heart symbol, using bold typography that conveys warmth and emotional connection. The heart replaced the word "love," making it instantly recognizable.
Cultural Impact: Despite being created for a specific tourism campaign, the logo became synonymous with the city itself, adapting to various cultural contexts and becoming a symbol of New York’s identity.
Enduring Popularity: From T-shirts to tattoos, the "I ♥ NY" logo remains a timeless example of how effective and universal graphic design can be, transcending its original purpose to become a global icon.
#GraphicDesign #ILoveNY #MiltonGlaser #DesignHistory #IconicDesign #NYC #SimpleDesign #WeeklyDesignHistory
1 month ago
Umberto Boccioni’s 'The City Rises' (1910) is a powerful representation of the energy and chaos of urban life. As a key work of the Italian Futurist movement, this painting captures the spirit of modernity with dynamic forms and vibrant colors.
Details About the Artwork:
Subject: The painting depicts the construction of a new city, with laborers, machinery, and horses in a chaotic, energetic scene. It conveys the frenetic pace of urbanization and industrial progress.
Technique: Boccioni uses sweeping, fluid lines and bold colors to create a sense of motion and vitality. The composition is filled with overlapping forms, emphasizing the dynamism and power of human and mechanical effort.
Significance: Although less famous than other works, 'The City Rises' is a quintessential Futurist painting, celebrating the modern age and its transformative energy.
Inspirational Idea:
"‘The City Rises’ reminds us of the relentless energy and progress of urban life. It captures the essence of modernity, urging us to embrace change and the possibilities of the future."
Image: Umberto Boccioni, The City Rises, 1910, oil on canvas, 199 cm × 301 cm (MoMA)
#thecityrises #umbertoboccioni #artinspiration #futurism #modernlife #urbanenergy #momaart
1 month ago
Brutalism: The Raw Beauty of Concrete
Emerging in the mid-20th century, Brutalism made a bold statement with its raw, unpolished aesthetic. Known for its use of concrete and stark, geometric forms, this architectural style focuses on honesty in materials and structure.
Key Characteristics:
Raw Concrete (Béton Brut): Exposed concrete surfaces define Brutalism, showcasing the material in its natural, unadorned state.
Monolithic Forms: Massive, block-like structures that emphasize weight, solidity, and simplicity.
Function Over Ornamentation: Design that highlights utility and structure, rejecting decorative embellishments.
Brutalism reminds us that beauty can be found in raw, honest expression. It challenges us to appreciate the inherent qualities of materials and the integrity of structure.
#Brutalism #DesignInspiration #ConcreteJungle #ArchitecturalHonesty #Habitat67 #RawBeauty
1 month ago
