Painting holds a privileged place in Spanish culture. In the words of María Zambrano, "the role of pictorial art in Spanish life has been extraordinary: it stands out among all other arts; it even surpasses poetry: it equals the theater of the golden ages, but it does not stop when the golden age ends, it continues, impassively, throughout our uneven history" (M. Zambrano, Spain and its painting, 1960).
In this seminar, we will study the great myths of Spanish art, from El Greco to Picasso and Dalí, with a special focus on the works of Velázquez and Goya. The approach is not only historical; it involves critically assessing the legacy of visual past in contemporary modernity.
General agenda:
- The Discovery of the Spanish Painting
- A Golden Age in the Spanish Painting.
- El Greco.
- Spanish Still Life Painting
- Velázquez
- Goya
- Picasso
- Dalí
Each of these chapters will lead to specific studies around a particular issue (for example, the presence of Spanish pictorial tradition in contemporary culture, the creation of cultural myths, the relationship between painting and cinema, art and politics, art and the market...).
Course evaluation: Students will present papers and projects, and debates will be conducted on the specific theme of this course (detailed bibliography and agenda will be provided on the first day of class).
As a complement to this course, a study trip to Madrid and Toledo will be organized in January 2024.
This seminar will be held in Spanish. Level required: B1B2C1C2
Professor: Cristina Marinas
- Teaching coordinator: Marinas Cristina