Masterpieces
Online course
8 lessons
NL
N.B. This course is taught in Dutch.
This Masterpieces online course covers eight masterpieces from Western art history. In art history, certain works are more famous than others. Why, really? What makes a work of art a masterpiece? You know most masterpieces by sight, but do you know why they are so important? By following this course, you will learn to at least understand 8 masterpieces (however inaccessible they may sometimes seem) and even better: appreciate them! We zoom in on the works and pay attention to what makes them so important to art history. In doing so, we also pay ample attention to the time and context of the work. What are the artist's other works or those of his contemporaries and what influence did this masterpiece have? This will automatically make it clear why we are still talking about, say, a simple milkmaid or a urinal on a pedestal today.
The masterpieces discussed are:
- Sandro Botticelli, Birth of Venus
- Hieronymus Bosch, Garden of Delights
- Caravaggio, Contarelli chapel
- Johannes Vermeer, The Milkmaid
- Vincent van Gogh, The Night Cafe
- Gustav Klimt, The Kiss
- Pablo Picasso, Guernica
- Marcel Duchamp, Fountain
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 join lesson 1 of this course as a free trial lesson without any obligations. You can register for this free trial lesson directly via this link.
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Frequently asked questions
What exactly does the taster lesson involve?
The taster lesson is the first lesson of a course, which you can attend free of charge and with no obligation. There’s no commitment: afterwards, you decide for yourself whether you want to take the full course. You can sign up for a taster lesson via the course page. An overview of all current taster lessons can be found at klu.nl/free-trial-lesson.
Please feel free to sign up for a free taster lesson, so you can see for yourself whether the course is right for you.
Do I need any prior knowledge to take a course?
No, most of KLU’s online art history courses do not require any prior knowledge. The courses are aimed at adults with an interest in art and culture, even if they have not previously studied art history.
Are you completely new to art history? Then this course is Introduction to Art History a good place to start. You can also filter our course listings to show introductory courses.
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.
What do students appreciate about KLU?
What students particularly appreciate about KLU is the combination of academic rigour and accessibility. Complex subject matter is made easy to understand whilst maintaining a high standard – that is what sets KLU apart.
The tutors are consistently praised: they are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and have an engaging teaching style. Course participants say that after every lesson they look forward to the next one and that the knowledge really sticks.
KLU also scores highly in practical terms: the ease of catching up on sessions, the handouts and the good value for money are frequently mentioned. And perhaps the best side effect of all: after the course, participants pack their bags, visit museums with a fresh perspective or discover a new hobby.
You can read all the reviews at klu.nl/reviews.
Dutch 
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