With one of the densest and most diverse museum landscapes in Europe, Basel is the ideal place to study art history. Art Basel, the Kunsthalle, Kunstmuseum, Fondation Beyeler, the Antikenmuseum Basel, Swiss Architecture Museum, Schaulager and many other institutions offer authentic contact with influential works, artists, trends and events. Working directly with original artworks is a fundamental component of the bachelor’s program, which encompasses the history of the visual arts (painting, sculpture, plastic arts, object art, arts and crafts, design, photography, video, installation, performance, new media) and the architecture of European cultures from late antiquity to the present. In Basel, we place particular emphasis on identifying, investigating and conveying the historical, social, political and aesthetic dimensions of artistic and cultural heritage. Connecting contemporary questions with historical research forms the core of our approach.

The Department of Art History focuses on the art of the Middle Ages, Byzantine art, the reception of the Middle Ages, the art and architecture of the Renaissance, nineteenth- and twentieth-century art in Europe and areas influenced by Europe, contemporary art, and art and image theory. The department is divided into the following fields, each represented by one professor:

• Medieval Art History (late antiquity, the early to late Middle Ages including Byzantine art until around 1500, reception of the Middle Ages)
• Early Modern Art History (Renaissance and baroque, fifteenth to nineteenth centuries)
• Modern Art History (modern and contemporary art, late eighteenth century to present day)
• Theory of Art (Schaulager Professor)
• Contemporary Art (Laurenz Assistant Professor)

These comprehensive thematic areas are complemented by teaching by research associates (for example on historical preservation, film and museum work), interdisciplinary lecture series, block courses. Teaching combines practical skills with comprehensive knowledge of historical works of art and discipline-specific theoretical skills. The bachelor’s program also includes theoretical components in which students reflect on methods and art history as a discipline. In addition to historical skills, the program develops students’ visual and argumentative skills in particular, as well as their understanding of hermeneutics in critical interpretation. 

The introductory module and the «Genres of Art History» modules (painting, sculpture and architecture) provide basic knowledge of the categories, criteria, analytical methods and specific terminology of art history. Students also learn about general and discipline-specific academic approaches and learn to present connections and contexts in the form of short presentations. The seminars, practical courses and lectures expand and deepen their knowledge of every era (medieval, early modern, modern and contemporary) and genre of art. Excursions encourage students to engage directly with artworks, while practice-oriented courses provide experience in future career paths.