Research Guides: Art History: Find OER

Select OER Books for Art History

Online Textbooks:

Lumen Learning - Art History A history of Art and Architecture from Prehistory to the Medieval Gothic period. This online textbook was created by Lumen Learning under an Open Access license.
Lumen Learning - Art History II A continued history of Art and Architecture beginning with the Proto-Renaissance and concluding with current day installation art. This is online textbook was created by Lumen Learning under an Open Access license.
Lumen Learning - Art Appreciation Explores what art is and why it matters. This text discusses the characteristics of art and the different periods and elements of art throughout history. This online textbook was created by Lumen Learning under an Open Access license.
smarthistory - Reframing Art History Reframes the ways Art History is studied and understood through a focus on meaning and movements. This online textbook was created by smarthistory under an Open Access license.
smarthistory - Guide to Byzantine Art An all encompassing guide to Byzantine Art. This online textbook was created by smarthistory under an Open Access License.
smarthistory - Guide to Ancient Roman Art An all encompassing guide to Ancient Roman Art. This online textbook was created by smarthistory under an Open Access License.
UNG Press - Introduction to Art: Design, Context, and Meaning An Introduction to art that explores the meaning, the form, and the power of art. This online textbook was created by the University of North Georgia Press under an Open Access License.

Books:

Periodization in the Art Historiographies of Central and Eastern Europe Critically investigates how art historians writing about Central and Eastern Europe in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries engaged with periodization. This open access book is made available through the Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB).
William Rimmer: Champion of Imagination in American Art Explores the art and life of William Rimmer, who is known to be the first Modernist American Sculptor. This open access book is made available through the Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB).
Complementary Modernisms in China and the United States: Art as Life/Art as Idea Explores the development of Modernism in both the United States and China. Through comparing and contrasting, the authors present the case for a greater understanding of Global Modernism perspective. This open access book is made available through JSTOR.
Bright Continent: African Art History A guide map of the history of African Art. The authors discuss elements of design, themes, and contemporary art. This open access book is made available through Press Books.
Western Art from 18th to Mid-20th Century Historical developments in Western Art from the 18th to Mid-20th Century. This open access book is made available by LibreTexts.

Other:

Khan Academy Art History Course Open access course on Art History created by Khan Academy.
Course Hero Boundless Art History Guide An elaborate guide on Art History and the historical and notable periods of art. This guide is made available on Course Hero under an Open Access license
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Open Access Collection A collection of about tens of thousands of open access images available to freely copy, modify and distribute provided by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Smithsonian Open Access An Open Access collection made available by the Smithsonian Institute. This collection includes over two million items.