This class provides an overview of painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Renaissance to modern times in Europe and America. We will cover the major stylistic transformations from these periods through the work of artists such as Leonardo, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, and Kehinde Wiley. By examining their art in relation to its historical context, we will analyze the pivotal role that visual culture has played in the emergence of modern society. Major themes of the course include individuality and artistic identity; patronage and the art market; art and religion; propaganda and political art; and the relationship between art and the environment.