Reigate College Art Department was delighted to welcome an expert art historian from The Courtauld Gallery in London into College on Wednesday 28th November to run a practical activity and contextual study session with the Lower Sixth Fine Art students. The Gallery is at the heart of The Courtauld Institute of Art, one of the world’s leading centres for the study of Art History and Conservation. 

The session consisted of students learning how to ‘read’ paintings from the gallery collection, look for the unexpected, and recognise their 21st century biases when analysing meanings. They also had the opportunity to curate a collection and produce a mini magazine making visual and conceptual links between art works and the things they see.

The day fed directly into the students’ current Essence project which involves them working on ideas to visualise things differently, depending on what they want to express or communicate, using visual language. 

Head of Fine Art, Emma Owen commented, “The workshop was a brilliant way to help the students develop their ideas and understanding of how artists over the centuries have tackled the same issues they are exploring today – we are very grateful to The Courtauld Gallery for coming into deliver such a fantastic session.”

Find out more about studying Art at Reigate College.