Commencing in the nineteenth-century and concluding with World War Two, this course examines seminal art and design movements and tendencies within changing social, political and cultural contexts. The material covered includes Realism, Impressionism, Expressionism, Art Nouveau, the Bauhaus, and early avant-gardes such as Futurism, Dada and Surrealism. These are considered against the backdrop of industrialisation, technological transformations, colonisation, international conflicts and totalitarian regimes. This course is designed for students with no prior academic knowledge in art.