The domestic interior was central to the development of modern western art. It was a favorite subject for painters, a space of artistic display for new middle-class patrons, and often the site of artistic creation. This course explores the theme of the interior through diverse case studies including Impressionist paintings by Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt, James McNeill Whistler’s controversial Peacock Room, Siegfried Bing’s Maison de l’Art Nouveau, and William Morris’s Arts and Crafts homes. During the semester we consider the ways in which interiors and their representations contributed to the construction of identity, drawing on feminist and queer theoretical accounts of the politics of interior space. We also discuss art in relation to the literature on the concept of public and private spheres. The syllabus includes field trips to view interiors in San Francisco and Berkeley.

This course fulfills the following Major requirements: Geographical area (A) and chronological period (III), based on the topic of the final research paper or project.