Global Opportunities

I studied abroad in Wroclaw, Poland, but traveled to many other Central European cities over the course of the program. Studying art history at Grinnell helped me navigate the architecture of these cities. In turn, through this comparative urban study, I learned to read the built environment in a new way. Central Europe has a deep and complex history, so being able to walk through a city and seeing which buildings have been preserved, renovated or destroyed throughout the centuries allowed me to comprehend global events on an immediate scale. My time abroad not only added in situ experience to my art historical knowledge, but also inspired me to think about future research and career opportunities in fields like historic preservation.

Studying abroad in Spain allowed me to vividly experience monumental architecture and artworks, including the Alcázar in Seville and Picasso’s Guernica on display at the Reina Sofía in Madrid. Additionally, I was given the opportunity to take classes at the local university in Salamanca, where I enrolled in Aesthetics, studying art history through a different lens. Through these experiences, images previously flattened by the lens of a projector screen took on a new life outside of the classroom. 
 

I spent time in both London and Paris during my study abroad experience, and these two historic cities provided amazing opportunities to view some artworks that I has always dreamed of seeing in real life. Seeing Fragonard’s The Swing in situ amongst all the trappings of 18th-century decoration in the Wallace Collection in London highlighted the delicately decorative aspects of the painting and contextualized it within its surroundings. Being able to study Monet’s vast and sweeping Nymphéas at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris was incredible. The paintings are both atmospheric and meditative, completely sweeping you up into their deep painted world. Experiencing these art pieces (as well as many others) in real life really highlighted the beauty and skill involved in these works and allowed me to appreciate them on an even deeper level.