Online art courses Drawing in Contemporary Art

The online art courses of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao offer accessible yet rigorous training in key concepts and topics in the history of modern and contemporary art, addressed from current perspectives. Drawing on the contributions from experts in specific fields, these courses are inspired by the Museum’s Collection and its dynamic exhibition program.

Drawing was the first form of artistic representation used by man to communicate or convey ideas. Its development has followed the evolution of history and art since its emergence as such in the sixteenth century.

Moreover, a drawing, either on paper or in the mind, is often the starting point of the creative process for many artists – a sort of “skeleton” of their work. And many drawings have come to be considered as works of art in their own right, given their complexity, their uniqueness, or the skill with which they were drafted. Many artists in the old days were celebrated for their dexterity in the mastery of this technique, which continues to be a fundamental discipline in contemporary art.

Objectives
This online course is aimed at:

• Offering an overview of the history of drawing, illustrating it with pieces from the old masters, particularly Francisco de Goya, as a predecessor of contemporary drawing.
• Reviewing non-Western drawing practices with an influence on contemporary drawing.
• Highlighting the importance of drawing, both as a technique and as an independent discipline.
• Illustrating all of the above with a selection of works from the Museum Collection that show the key role played by drawing in artists’ creative processes and accomplished works of art.

Conducted by:
José Manuel Matilla, art historian, Chief Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Prado Museum.

Structure and contents 

Availability
The course will be available online for three months. Students will be able to access the course wherever they are, progressing at their own pace. Upon completing a module, they will be able to move on to the next one.

Target audience
People over 18 who are interested in broadening or updating their knowledge of modern and contemporary art or getting a few key references on this topic. No prior knowledge required. Members of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao Community will have priority over other applicants to access the 50 places available.

Language
Spanish

FAQs

Yoshitomo Nara
Joey, 2008
Lápiz sobre papel
51,5 × 36,5 cm
Colección del artista
© Yoshitomo Nara 2008
Cortesía Yoshitomo Nara Foundation