Art historian Hanneke Lenders is one of KLU's lecturers as well as its manager. Her specialism is originally in early Christian art and late medieval prayer books, but over the years she has added other loves such as Mondriaan and modernist architecture. Hanneke teaches several courses for beginners such as the course Introduction to Art History. So she is the one who will guide you through the whole history of art.
Introduction to art history
Online course
8 lessons
NL
N.B. This course is taught in Dutch.
This online art history course for beginners is an ideal first introduction to art history. Do you want to better understand and appreciate art? Get an overview of the entire history of art in a short time and learn to recognise the main art styles and art periods? This course has it all.
Lecturer Hanneke Lenders leads you through art history from the Greeks and Romans to modern art. You will learn, for instance, how Gothic architecture differs from Romanesque. What the difference is between Renaissance painting and Impressionism. Why Rembrandt's Night Watch and Van Gogh's Starry Night are so famous. Why Michelangelo il divinoand which can be recognised as Flemish Primitives or Baroque. If you know just a little bit more about art history, you will already look at familiar works of art with completely different eyes and have more fun visiting museums or that one church you walk into on holiday.
This course takes you through the entire history of Western art in eight lessons. It covers painting, sculpture and architecture. On completion, you will get to know the main styles and periods, acquire a good basic knowledge and overview of art history and also learn to appreciate art in its temporal context. The format of the lessons is as follows:
- Classical antiquity
- Romanesque/early medieval
- Gothic/Late Middle Ages
- Renaissance
- Baroque & golden age, classicism
- Neo-classicism, romanticism & realism
- Impressionism & expressionism
- Modern art
How does that work online?
You take this course online from your own computer or tablet. All you need is a good internet connection and sound. Teacher and images will appear on your screen automatically. If you cannot attend 'live', you can watch the replay afterwards. Registration is therefore still possible until after lesson 2 of the course.
Free trial lesson
Want to know if this course and taking it online is for you? You can take lesson 1 of this course as a free trial lesson without any obligations. You can register for this free trial lesson directly via the button below.
Course details
8x Monday evenings, start 28 September
Registration closes 18 October
8x Thursday evenings, start 29 October
Registration closes 15 November
8 Tuesday evenings, starting 24 November
Registration closes 13 December
New start dates?
Keep me abreast Of new start dates.
Recommended literature
Should you wish to delve further into the subject of this course, we recommend the following books. This is not compulsory literature for the course.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the ‘Introduction to Art History’ course aimed at?
KLU’s ‘Introduction to Art History’ course is aimed at anyone with an interest in art and culture who wishes to explore art history in greater depth. No prior knowledge is required. The course is popular with people who have little prior knowledge but want to understand more about and learn what they see in museums, churches or whilst travelling. The explanations are accessible and clear.
What will I learn on the Introduction to Art History course?
In KLU’s ‘Introduction to Art History’ course, you will learn to recognise the key styles, periods and works of art from Western art history in painting, sculpture and architecture. By the end of the course, you will view art in museums, churches and whilst on holiday with a fresh perspective.
Which periods and styles are covered in the Introduction to Art History course?
The KLU course ‘Introduction to Art History’ covers eight periods: Classical Antiquity, the Romanesque period, the Gothic period, the Renaissance, the Baroque and the Golden Age, Neoclassicism and Romanticism, Impressionism and Expressionism, and modern art.
The exhibition covers painting, sculpture and architecture.
Is a trial lesson really free and without obligation?
The trial lesson at KLU is completely free and without obligation. You follow lesson 1 of a course at no cost and without any obligation.
During the taster lesson, you’ll get a feel for how a lesson is structured: the teacher, the visual material and the handout. Afterwards, you’ll receive a recording so you can watch it again at your leisure before making a decision. There’s no obligation. View all current taster lessons at klu.nl/gratisproefles.
What’s included in a course?
With every KLU course, you’ll receive lessons lasting an average of two hours, which you can also watch again within fourteen days of the course ending.
In addition, after each lesson you will receive a handout containing a summary and the images covered. You can ask the tutor questions via the private online community or by email, and the tutor will answer them after the lesson.
If I’m unable to attend one or more of the class dates, can I still take the course?
Yes, even if you miss a live class, you can watch it later on KLU. After each class, you’ll automatically receive a link to the recording by email. It’s valid for 14 days, and you can watch the recording as often as you like.
Many students even complete the entire course via the recording. This means you don’t need to be present on the scheduled date to complete the full course.
The course has already started – can I still enrol?
Yes, at KLU you can still enrol well after a course has started. If you enrol after the course has started, you will automatically receive links to watch the recordings of the lessons that have already taken place. That way, you won’t miss a single lesson. The course page states the deadline for enrolment.
Dutch 
English