If you had asked me when making my middle school yearbook page what my dream job would be, you would have seen chef, professional athlete, doctor, maybe even astronaut. If you asked my parents about what it took to convince (drag) me to an art museum on a weekend, you would see a good eye roll from my mom and hear a laugh from my dad. Even if you had given me a box of coloring supplies, Iâd still rather have taken on just about any other activity.Â
Maybe it was my obsession with Frida Kahlo in the âWho Wasâ book series or the toy camera my grandfather gifted me in the fourth grade, but my annoyance eventually turned into an obsession. When we enter university, we are so wrapped up in our own subjects that we often miss out on other important, engaging, and possible new passions. While Economics and Chemistry lectures may not exactly be something I am interested in, simply hearing about Marine Biology courses or the Agatha Christie English module makes me extremely jealous. And so, in the following few hundred words, I will prove to you how necessary it is that you take an Art History course, or at least why you should befriend someone who can talk your ear off about them!Â
Art history is not limited to the greats of the Renaissance âCarravagio, Da Vinci and Michaelangeloâ and is actually global, diverse and fascinating. Much of the flat-inspo you have saved on Pinterest and strange charity shop finds are, in fact, inspired by larger, historical art styles. The exposed wood beams of a summer cottage, tapestries, and ornate lamps stem from the Gothic. Or for the clean-girl aesthetic girls, your minimalist, practical, open-concept kitchens are an offshoot of mid-twentieth-century modernism. Art history is a part of how you develop your personal style, experience a museum, and can even justify some impromptu travel plans. It isnât as obsolete as we think. It is so very present in our lives.
Art finds its way into so many facets of our daily lives: the architecture of the buildings we study in, the costume design of our favorite movie characters, and even the lighting in our favorite restaurants. My time spent studying the subject has completely transformed the way I view the world around me. Understanding the why, how, and when of art can help us rethink how we learned history and redefine our interpretations of entire cultures. It can also make for some pretty cool conversation, and you may even discover some new styles to add to your wardrobe and bedroom decor!
However, I will save you a history lesson and skip the painting analysis, instead addressing it in a topic we all care about.
As many young women are grappling with the hard truth that Formula One driver Charles Leclerc is engaged, we can shift our energy to his fiancĂ©e Alexandra Saint-Mleux’s impeccable fashion sense. Aside from being one of the most famous WAGS (aka wives and girlfriends of athletes), she has an art history degree. She now works as an art coordinator, and it is quite telling in her exquisite style. Her curated vintage dresses, matching in color, silhouette, and pattern, can be linked to her degree and appreciation for art. Beyond Leclerc, we can be jealous of her chic outfits! As I mentioned before, my absolute favorite artist is Frida Kahlo⊠and she must be one of Mleuxâs too⊠At the Mexico City Grand Prix, she rocked a Kahlo-inspired outfit that, being an Art History student, I immediately picked up on. Her lace white dress and red heart clutch resemble Kahloâs white Tehuana dress and the external depiction of her heart in her famous self-portrait, The Two Fridas (1939). Mleux honors Mexico for the event by pulling inspiration from one of its most notable artists. Art and fashion go hand in hand, and so do the cool fashion girls and art history. So pick an artist, open up Vinted, and find an era to replicate; the art history students will be bound to pick up on your style game!