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With its great deal of topic choice flexibility, the IB Art History syllabus can often feel overwhelming for students. However, in this post, we’ll break it all down and provide you with everything you need to gain a clear understanding of what to expect from the course.
IB Art History Syllabus + Topics
The IB Art History course is designed around a core curriculum of six themes, which are explored through two selected art historical topics. The flexibility of the course allows schools to select topics based on factors such as the teacher’s expertise and the school’s location, while also encouraging students to explore different societal and cultural perspectives.
The course is offered at Standard Level (SL) and requires 150 teaching hours. Schools are required to select at least two topics from a choice of twelve, with the selected topics providing the foundation for students’ detailed knowledge of art history. One important thing to remember is that the twelve topics are paired as alternatives. This means students cannot choose both topics within the same pair.
The Six Core Themes
Throughout the course, artworks and architecture are examined through six fundamental thematic lenses. These themes are not separate units. Instead, they are integrated throughout the two topics selected for study.
1. Style and Formal Qualities
This theme focuses on the visual characteristics of artworks and architecture and how styles develop over time. You’ll examine features such as:
Composition
Scale
Colour
Texture
Space
Light and shade
Other formal characteristics
You’ll learn not only how to identify these features, but also how they can contribute to the meaning and interpretation of an artwork.
2. Iconography and Meaning
This theme explores the subject matter, genres, symbols, and imagery found in artworks. You’ll consider how particular symbols and subjects communicate ideas and how their meanings can be understood within their cultural contexts. Rather than simply describing what appears in an artwork, you’ll investigate what those visual elements might represent and why they were significant.
3. Historical Context and Function
Artworks do not exist independently from the societies that produced them. This theme focuses on the political, social, and economic contexts in which artworks and architecture were created and used. You’ll explore how historical circumstances can influence both the function and meaning of an artwork or architectural work.
4. Artistic Production and Patronage
This theme examines the circumstances in which artists and architects created their work. You’ll consider:
The status of artists and architects within society
The conditions under which artworks were produced
Relationships between artists and patrons
The influence of patrons on artistic production
How patronage can affect the form and meaning of artworks
This can help you understand that artistic decisions are sometimes influenced by the people or institutions commissioning and supporting the work.
5. Techniques and Materials
This theme focuses on how artworks and architecture are physically produced. You’ll learn about the techniques, processes, and materials used by artists and architects and consider how these choices can influence the final appearance, function, and meaning of a work.
6. Cultural Identity
The final theme explores how cultural identity is represented in art and how identity influences interpretation. You may examine representations connected to:
Gender
Sexuality
Nationality
Political affiliations
Religious affiliations
Ethnicity
You’ll also consider how the identities of artists, architects, and viewers can influence the way artworks are understood and interpreted.
Syllabus Topics
Teachers must select at least two topics from the twelve available options. The topics are organized into six pairs, and students cannot select both topics from the same pair. The topics cover art history from the ancient world through global contemporary art, giving students the opportunity to study artworks and architecture across a wide range of historical periods and geographical regions.
Topic 1: Art of Ancient Greece
This topic explores the development of Greek art and architecture from the ancient Aegean cultures through the Hellenistic period. Possible areas of study include:
Ancient cultures of the Aegean
Development of Greek architecture
Archaic and Classical sculpture
Greek vase painting
Hellenistic art
or
Topic 2: Art of Ancient Rome
This topic examines Roman art and architecture, including the influence of Greek culture and the ways art was used to communicate political and social ideas. Possible areas include:
Etruscan art and society
Influence of Greek culture
Ancient Roman architecture, sculpture, and painting
Art in service to the state
Portraiture and commemoration
Topic 3: Art of Christendom (pre-1400)
This topic examines the development of Christian art and architecture before 1400, including major developments in Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic, and Italian art. Possible areas include:
Early Christian art and architecture
Icons and iconoclasm
Byzantine art traditions
Romanesque and Gothic art and architecture
Manuscript illumination
Trecento painting and sculpture in Italy
or
Topic 4: Art of South Asia and South-East Asia (pre-1300)
This topic explores the relationship between religious beliefs and artistic production, particularly the development and spread of Hindu and Buddhist art and architecture. Possible areas include:
Religious beliefs and practices in India
Iconography of Buddhism
Hindu and Buddhist art and architecture in India
The spread of Hindu and Buddhist art and architecture in Sri Lanka and Java
Hindu and Buddhist art and architecture in mainland South-East Asia
Topic 5: Art of the Americas (pre-1600)
This topic examines the development of art and architecture across pre-1600 Mesoamerica and Peru. Possible areas include:
Art and architecture of Mesoamerica and Peru
Teotihuacan: art and beliefs
Art and society of the Maya
Aztec and Mixtec art
Inca art
or
Topic 6: Art of China and Japan (c.1000–c.1600)
This topic explores artistic developments in China and Japan, including developments in painting, architecture, landscape traditions, and decorative arts. Possible areas include:
Developments in Chinese art and architecture
Works on paper
Developments in landscape, including symbolism and meaning
Porcelain
Developments in Japanese art and architecture
Topic 7: Art of the Islamic World (c.600–c.1600)
This topic explores the development of Islamic art and architecture across different regions and dynasties. Possible areas include:
Umayyad and Abbasid art and architecture
Islamic Spain
Samanid and Seljuk architecture
Ottoman art and architecture
Safavid art and architecture
Mughal art and architecture
or
Topic 8: Art of the Renaissance (c.1400–c.1550)
This topic examines the Renaissance and its developments in Italy and Northern Europe, including changes in artistic status, patronage, techniques, and genres. Possible areas include:
Humanism and the rise of the artist
15th-century art and architecture in Italy and Northern Europe
High Renaissance and Mannerism in Italy
New patrons, techniques, and genres
16th-century art and architecture in Northern Europe
Topic 9: Art of the Baroque Period (c.1600–c.1720)
This topic focuses on Baroque art and architecture and the developments that characterized European art during this period. Possible areas include:
Baroque architecture and decorative schemes
Painting in Italy, France, and Spain
17th-century sculpture in Italy
17th-century Dutch and Flemish painting
New genres and techniques
or
Topic 10: Rococo to Realism (c.1720–c.1860)
This topic explores major artistic developments from Rococo through Romanticism and Realism, including changes in the status of artists and developments in landscape painting. Possible areas include:
Rococo art and architecture
18th-century architecture in Europe and America
The role of Academies in shaping 18th-century painting and sculpture
Romanticism and the changing status of the artist
Developments in landscape painting
Topic 11: Modern Art in Europe and America (c.1860–c.1960)
This topic covers major developments in modern art from the mid-19th century through the mid-20th century. Possible areas include:
Development of photography
Realism, Impressionism, Japonisme, Symbolism, and Art Nouveau
Modernism in architecture
Expressionism, Futurism, and Cubism
Art between World War I and World War II
Abstract Expressionism
or
Topic 12: Global Contemporary Art (c.1960–)
The final topic examines the changing nature of art and architecture around the world from approximately 1960 onwards. Possible areas include:
Developments in art and architecture around the world
Changing definitions of art and conceptual art
Developments in photography
Performance, installation, and video art
Body and land art
Indigenous art from around the world
We hope you found this post helpful! For more useful materials associated with the IB, check out the wide variety of IA, EE and TOK exemplars available at Clastify and other guides available on our blog.
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