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.
Symbolism in art A
Online course
6 lessons
NL
N.B. This course is taught in Dutch.
The Symbolism A and Symbolism B can be followed separately (in any order).
In this online course on symbolism in art, you will learn all about the meaning of symbols and various objects and figures throughout art history. Most people are aware that the man with the long beard and loincloth on the cross represents Jesus Christ. Somewhat less well known is the alabaster jar, by which Mary Magdalene can be recognised. And when we see an eagle, does it represent the Greek god Zeus, the evangelist John, or a glorification of a Roman emperor? What does the symbolism in *The Arnolfini Portrait* tell us? Are the oranges a sign of fertility or of wealth? And what is the significance of Vermeer’s *The Milkmaid*? Is she an innocent still life of a human being or an emblem of love and eroticism? This course covers it all. You will learn to recognise the most important symbols, objects, personifications and allegories. This will give you the tools to appreciate Christian, mythological and secular art alike.
In Symbolism in Art A, each lesson we dive into the symbolism of a specific topic or theme per lesson. The format is as follows:
- Introduction and symbolism of the 'Annunciation'
- Recognising personifications and allegories
- Symbolism of secular art including a deep dive into Jan van Eyck's Arnolfini portrait
- Symbolism of the Nativity and Crucifixion scenes
- Love symbolism of the Golden Age
- Romanticism and Symbolism
How does that work online?
You follow this lecture online from your own computer or tablet. All you need is a good internet connection and sound. Lecturer and images will automatically appear on your screen. If you cannot attend 'live', you can watch the replay of the lesson another time.
Free trial lesson
Want to know if this course and taking it online is for you? Then sign up now for our free trial lesson! You will then take lesson 1 of the course completely free of charge and without obligation.
Course details
6x Tuesday evenings, start 6 October
Registration closes 25 October
6x Monday evenings, start 23 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
What will I learn on the ‘Symbolism in Art A’ course?
In KLU’s ‘Symbolism in Art A’ course, you will learn to recognise and understand the meaning behind symbols, personifications and allegories in Western art.
You’ll delve into Christian, mythological and secular art. By the end of the course, you’ll look at paintings differently; you’ll not only see what’s depicted, but also understand what it means. Who is that woman with the jar of ointment? What do the oranges in the Arnolfini portrait signify? What does Vermeer’s ‘The Milkmaid’ convey?
Do I need any prior knowledge for the ‘Symbolism in Art A’ course?
No prior knowledge is required for KLU’s ‘Symbolism in Art A’ course. The course is suitable for anyone with an interest in art and culture. Have you previously Introduction to Art History Have you taken a course at KLU? If so, Symboliek A builds on that nicely. If you’re not sure which course to start with, please contact with us!
Does it matter in which order I take the Symbolism A, B and C courses?
The courses ‘Symbolism in Art A’ and Symbolism in art B They can be taken completely independently of one another, in any order. So you can start with the course that appeals to you most or fits in best with your schedule.
However, we do recommend taking Symbolism A before Symbolism C, because A lays the best foundation for the more in-depth themes covered in C.
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.
Which topics are covered in each lesson of ‘Symbolism in Art A’?
In KLU’s ‘Symbolism in Art A’ course, each lesson covers a specific theme. The six lessons cover: the symbolism of the Annunciation, recognising personifications and allegories, the symbolism of secular art (with an in-depth look at Jan van Eyck’s portrait of Arnolfini), the symbolism of Nativity and Crucifixion scenes, the symbolism of love in the Golden Age, and finally Romanticism and Symbolism.
Dutch 
English