History of Modern Art
Instructions
• Papers (8-10 pages) must be stapled, typed in 12 pt. typeface (preferably Times New
Roman) and double-spaced, with 1-inch margins on all sides.
• Think of the images discussed in class and in some of the readings.
• Citations must come from the course readings and from scholarly journals/books.
Do not use Wikipedia or personal websites for your research.
• Format your essay, notes, and bibliography according to the Chicago Manual of
Style.
• Please edit your papers and make revisions prior to submission.
• Illustrations (black/white will suffice) with correct information regarding artist,
title, and date, should be attached at the end of your essay.
Essay Topic
The readings and lectures from the last few weeks following the midterm exam point to the
passage from Cubism to complete abstraction. Moreover, certain abstract paintings can be seen
as related to a distinct form of modernist architecture. Discuss these two developments (Cubism
to pure abstraction and abstract painting to modernist architecture) in your essay, with precise
examples from the lectures. Use judicious citations from your readings and from your research to
support your arguments. In your response, discuss works by at least five
artists/designers/architects, whose works we have seen in last few class lectures.