A History of Art student's retrospective

Today, I graduate with my History of Art degree, and so I take the time to have a think back on the last three years. Let me take you back to September 2023: I had just moved into my accommodation on the Vale, and I got an email about the History of Art quiz to meet the course requirements. How exciting.

I joined a team with my now best friends, and one of the first questions was ‘who painted this painting?’ and I had absolutely no clue, I had never seen it before in my life. It was The Two Fridas, by Frida Kahlo! I have never lived that one down, once a week I am reminded by my friends I didn’t know who Frida Kahlo was. No one laughed at me at the time; in my head they all silently thought, "Who is this girl, and why is she studying History of Art."

Truth be told, I had no idea why either. I didn’t know a thing about art, I had hardly ever seen any art, I just thought it sounded cool, so here I was. And here I am today, art is my favourite thing! My life is now consumed by art, and I wouldn’t wish for it to be any other way. 

Making the decision at age 18 to study History of Art at the University of Birmingham has changed my life forever. History of Art has not just given me a degree, it’s given me a passion and a whole new perspective on the world.

So how did I get here?

First year

In my first year I struggled. I felt completely out of my depth, evidently after the Frida Khalo disaster. I was surrounded by people who knew what was going on, they all knew the artists and art works we were learning about, people who loved art and I just sat there thinking ‘what’ all the time. First year modules: Objects and Medium, Writing Art History, Historical Concepts and Debates and Methods. These gave me the background I needed to understand art. I learnt the art periods, the key critics, the key theories. It was a useful year, I learned things I needed to know, things I probably should have already known, and i caught up.

But I didn’t start feeling the love in first year. I had numerous phone calls to my mother, crying that I was confused, and I did not want to go to my seminars. But I stuck it out, I went, I tried my best, I learnt what I could. So I finished first year, I went home for the summer and everyone asked ‘how was your first year? Do you love your course?’, the answer was no. I felt like I had learnt nothing, even though that wasn't true. But I was a year in, I wasn’t going to give up, so I went back for second year.

Second year

I loved it! My passion for art arrived, the moment I had been waiting for. I officially became obsessed with my degree. In the first semester I did three modules, Post War Art, the Viennese Fin-de-Siecle and Inside the Gallery, curating. I loved all three of these modules, and finally realised how interesting and amazing art is.

Then, second semester; Arts and Craft, the Renaissance and the best one of all, Study Abroad, a week in Belgium. Learning about the Renaissance was so crucial to my studies, a period which changed art forever. The knowledge from this module completely transformed how I have studied art since. Our weeklong trip to Belgium was so important to how I study art. I learnt how enjoyable and insightful it is to travel to a new country and immerse myself in its culture through its art.

Over the summer, I did an internship at an auction house, I worked at two art fairs in London, I visited a Jenny Saville exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery and began to immerse myself in art. My boring and confusing first year began to make sense. I had learned a lot. I learnt what I needed to know to understand my second year modules, and also what I needed to know to visit a gallery or exhibition or fair and be ‘in the know’. The knowledge I accumulated in my first and second years was incredibly valuable, and now I am prepared for my third year.

Third year

The biggest, most stressful, toughest year, but arguably the most interesting too. Despite the intense pressure to succeed and work hard, I have enjoyed every second of this year. Sometimes I sit in a lecture and wish I had no essay to write, or exam to revise for, because I just want to enjoy the moment, sitting surrounded by my friends, listening to an expert talk to me about their passion, the most wonderful and beautiful passion, art. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to spend my day listening and reading about art.

I started my third year studying Sound and Vision, which finalised my love for art. I had never appreciated abstract art before, I was one of those people who said ‘what’s the point in this’, ‘I could do this’, but this module taught me to understand and appreciate the depth of abstract art, the final hurdle I needed to overcome to be a true art lover. In my final year, I have also studied The Pre Raphaelites, British Queer Art and French Interiority. Three more modules that I enjoyed every second of. I have learnt about vast and contrasting artworks, that somehow all come together. Through culture and society, they are all connected to each other, the world, and life today.

It is exceptional how much art can tell us, it is never just a painting. I have also, of course, spent my final year writing my dissertation. This has been an opportunity to hone my skills and bring together everything I have spent three years learning into one piece. My final dissertation on Evelyn De Morgan’s The Little Sea Maid is a true reflection of me. It’s hard to explain that without knowing me personally or reading my dissertation; however, you must take my word for it.

This last year, I have tried my best to soak up every moment of learning because in a couple of months, it is all over. I will no longer be living this luxurious life of spending my days learning about art. But I am hopeful my life will continue to be filled with art every day. Whether it be my career or just my passion and hobby, I will never leave behind what I have learnt doing my History of Art degree. Art is not just about paint on a canvas. Art is about culture, society, and politics. It’s about people. Who we are, identity and sexuality.

Art is in every part of life, and I will forever notice this. When I wonder why I want to go shopping on a Saturday, I’ll think about La Maison Modern, or one day when I decide to get married, I will think of my dissertation on Evelyn De Morgan. Or next time I go for a stroll on Hampstead Heath, I will think about Ford Madox Brown, and the relationships between friends. One day, Frida Kahlo will come up in conversation, and I will be reminded of how far I have come. A girl with no clue about art, never mind not understanding how important it is to our culture and society, but not even knowing who a single artist was. I owe my current and future life to my History of Art degree. I have learnt not just about art, but literature, psychology, history and politics and most importantly myself, and I will endeavour to continue learning and expanding my knowledge for the rest of my life.

Now my three years are coming to an end, and I find myself caught between elation and sadness. I am deeply excited to walk across the stage on July 7th in my cap and gown, alongside friends who will remain for life, with a mind enriched by all I have learned. Yet there is also a quiet sense of loss in leaving behind a place that has profoundly shaped who I am today.