This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
This module explores the art and culture of the so-called 'Golden Age' of seventeenth-century Holland, and critically examines the appropriateness of this common way of naming the period. Different types of paintings such as portraits, genre painting and still-life will be studied, and their social functions critically evaluated. The life and work of renowned Dutch masters, such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer and Frans Hals, as well as a number of lesser known artists such as Judith Leyster, Jan Steen and Willem Claesz Heda, will be closely examined. Special attention is given to the society and context that produced this art including politics, religion, the art market, the position of women, global trading and the slave trade. Lectures and seminars discuss these themes through the use of visual and written resources. In addition, the seminars are devoted to practical applications of relevant art historical and academic skills (visual analysis, interpretation, evaluation, communication, critical thinking). This is reflected in the assessments that develop progressively to ensure learning outcomes.
Total contact hours: 48
Total private study hours: 252
Total module study hours: 300
Main assessment methods
Presentation (10 mins plus supporting documentation and peer Q&A) – 20%
Creative Portfolio (2,000 words) – 40%
Essay (2,000 words) – 40%
Reassessment methods
Like for like
The University is committed to ensuring that core reading materials are in accessible electronic format in line with the Kent Inclusive Practices.
The most up to date reading list for each module can be found on the university's reading list pages: https://kent.rl.talis.com/index.html
Indicative Reading List
Berger, J. (1972) Ways of Seeing Ways of Seeing, London: Penguin
Schama, S. (1987) The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age, New York City: Knopf
Alpers, S. (1993) The Art of Describing: Dutch Art in the 17th Century, Chicago: University of Chicago Press
Alpers, S. (1995) Rembrandt's Enterprise: The Studio and the Market, Chicago: University of Chicago Press
Franits, W. (ed.) Looking at Dutch Seventeenth-Century Art: Realism Reconsidered, Cambridge: Cambridge UP
Slive, S. (1995) Dutch Painting 1600–1800, New Haven and London: Yale University Press
Prak, M.R. (2005) The Dutch Republic in the Seventeenth Century: The Golden Age, Cambridge: Cambridge UP
Panofsky, E. (1972 [1939]) Studies in Iconology: Humanistic Themes in the Art of the Renaissance, New York: Harper & Row.
The intended subject specific learning outcomes
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1 Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the art and culture of seventeenth-century Holland and the international context in which it was produced.
2 Distinguish, describe and interpret a range of artworks representative of the 'Dutch Golden Age' and the style and concerns of the leading artists of the period.
3 Evaluate the interrelations across objects, people and context relevant to the art of the Dutch Golden Age.
4 Critically reflect on the role of clients and the market in artistic production during the Dutch Golden Age.
5 Identify and assess the different ways in which the art of the Dutch Golden Age is displayed, and the values that these displays articulate.
6 Contextualise the role art plays in the formation of national identity and how it shapes our views of the past.
The intended generic learning outcomes
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1 Deploy a range of art historical methods, terms and concepts, and demonstrate skills of visual and historical analysis, and critical thinking
2 Develop and apply transferable skills of bibliographical and independent research, and carry out independent and group work
3 Effectively communicate information through different means, and convincingly present arguments to specialist and non-specialist audiences
4 Utilise, evaluate and prioritise different sources as appropriate, including primary and secondary material, online resources and museum collections
5 Appreciate international contexts and draw fruitful comparisons to their own (ILO)
University of Kent makes every effort to ensure that module information is accurate for the relevant academic session and to provide educational services as described. However, courses, services and other matters may be subject to change. Please read our full disclaimer.
