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 B
Online course
7 lessons
NL
The Symbolism A, B and C courses can be taken separately (in any order).
N.B. This course is taught in Dutch.
In this course, we dive into the world of symbols, personifications and allegories. Christian, secular and mythological symbolism are covered. We look at the attributes by which you can recognise various saints; we wander through Biblical and apocryphal stories; we get to know the main mythological figures and delve into the seemingly superficial representations of 'everyday life' that are secretly packed with messages. This course thus covers the entire history of art. You will get answers to questions such as How did Mary get her mythological companion the unicorn? Why did Orpheus lose his Eurydice in the underworld? And why is a seemingly superficial work like Jeff Koons' Balloon Dog, nevertheless a work full of meaning? This will give you tools for viewing Christian, mythological and secular art alike.
In Symbolism in Art B, each lesson we cover the symbolism of a specific subject or theme. Discussing Mary & The Holy Spirit, The Last Supper and Last Judgement, among others, we dive deep into the meaning of each object or figure of The Ambassadors by Holbein and The School of Athens of Raphael; we see proverbs and morality in the Golden Age; and how the emperor used art as a propaganda tool. The final lecture is a guest lecture by Yvonne Hilgenkamp on Christian symbolism in 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
7x Friday mornings, start 6 November
Registration closes 22 November
New start dates?
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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
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.
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.
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