After World War II ended in Europe, participating countries’ responses to the conflict—and what evolved into their remembrances of it—were widely varied. West and East Germany, Italy, France, and the Soviet Union retold or embellished their wartime histories, which downplayed or ignored the support of fascism and the Nazi regime. Writer and former foreign correspondent Adam Tanner reflects on how these nations have come to terms, or not, with their actions in World War II.
Students find out why we see and communicate color differently, how light affects color perception, what the Impressionist color palette was, and how the artists painted.
Caravaggio's Saint Matthew cycle—three paintings commissioned for the Roman church of San Luigi dei Francesi—was the artist’s first major public work. And the story they tell contains a murder mystery. Art historian, art crime expert, and author Noah Charney deciphers a Baroque detective story centered on a complicated artist (with a murder in his history) that offers a novel way to approach and appreciate the genius behind the paintings. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Every day the average person draws in 2,000 gallons of air—and with it, thousands of living things. The bacteria, fungi, algae, and other organisms that inhabit the air constitute an invisible ecosystem known as the aerobiome, one of the last great frontiers of science. New York Times columnist and author Carl Zimmer draws on his new book, Air-Borne, to explore how the aerobiome is an essential part of a living world—a highway through the sky for many species—of which we become a part with every breath we take.
Explore the basics of color theory, including temperature, value, and harmony-creating color schemes. In hands-on projects, learn to use a color wheel with tinting and toning, color charts, and color harmony studies.
Artist Sandro Botticelli’s career flourished in the late 15th-century under the patronage of the Medici family, whose influence is woven throughout much of his work that blends classical themes with contemporary Florentine ideals. However, his trajectory was significantly impacted by the dramatic events of the day, notably the Bonfire of the Vanities, which saw countless artworks condemned as immoral and destroyed, marking a turning point in Botticelli's life and work. Art historian Elaine Ruffolo traces Botticelli’s remarkable journey from his early triumphs as a Medici favorite to his later years shaped by religious zeal and spiritual introspection. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Discover the sculptures of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in this artful workshop. Practice your observation and sketching skills alongside other participants while you are surrounded by modern and contemporary artworks.
The Godfather, parts 1 and 2, are often listed as among the greatest films of all time. Together with part 3, these films constitute a powerful cinematic trilogy that explores the myth of Italian American culture, the refashioning of the gangster film genre, and the influence of European auteur cinema on the Hollywood studio system. Joseph Luzzi, a literature professor at Bard College who also teaches courses on film and Italian studies, examines the cinematic techniques and themes that give the Godfather films their enduring appeal.
Learn how to add distinctive patterns, color, and texture to photographs using embroidery.
The 48th season of the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society features musical masterpieces from the late-16th to the early 21st century, played on some of the world’s most highly prized musical instruments in a 6-concert series held mostly on Saturdays. This concert features music of John Jenkins and William Lawes with the Smithsonian Consort of Viols.
