This is a course that can be learned from scratch.

The threshold of art is not high; it does not require one to climb mountains and cross rivers to reach. It is a course, or it may also be an opportunity to touch your heart; the artist's sincere creation can connect you with your inner self, revealing a different you. In the offline classroom, some students said that they felt different about themselves ever since taking this course. This is the power and charm of art.

The course follows the timeline as its main thread, tracing the rhythm of beauty through history—from the glory of ancient Greek human sculpture, the grandeur of Gothic cathedrals, the prosperity of the Renaissance, the opulence of Baroque and Rococo, the freshness of Dutch painting, romantic bloodshed... to the rebellion of modern art. Through appreciating these works and analyzing the life experiences and personalities of the artists, we aim to spark curiosity and exploration in broader fields such as philosophy, sociology, cognitive psychology, and behavioral psychology. We hope to build a bridge of sensibility between the artwork and the viewer, leading to the inner world of the viewer, allowing the perception of beauty to directly touch the soul. When the heart truly feels the beauty of things, the soul is nourished, and the meaning and value of life become prominent.

As the saying goes, "Beauty is an invisible competitive edge." In today's diverse and competitive society, the seemingly intangible ability to perceive beauty greatly influences one's internal perspective on the external world. A student once said, "Through each painting, I want to see the master's reflection on myself, but what I ponder over is my own story." Who says your story, your life isn't art?

The content of the class may be familiar or unfamiliar. After learning it, you will no longer fear art. You may even fall in love with a certain painter or work; "love" bridges art and you, me, providing nourishment from beauty.

"Twelve Lectures on Western Art" serves as the textbook for this MOOC.

Course Objective:

Based on aesthetic appreciation, the course aims to allow students to feel the freedom of aesthetic judgment, not just being influenced by the powerful trends of art history. It strives to foster personal understanding and recognition of beauty, feeling life's inherent yearning for beauty. As the saying goes well, "Beauty is an invisible competitive edge." In today's diversified and competitive society, the seemingly intangible ability to perceive beauty greatly affects one's internal views on the external world. An increased sensitivity to beauty leads to more yearning and contribution towards the world, which when applied to the aesthetics of life, significantly enhances one's spiritual quality.

The content of the class may be familiar or unfamiliar. After learning it, you will no longer fear art. You may even fall in love with a certain painter or work; "love" bridges art and you, me, providing nourishment from beauty.

After studying this course, you will achieve an initial understanding of the history of Western art. When faced with artworks, you will no longer feel intimidated, and you will have the courage to express your own opinions and insights. You will also develop a curiosity about different interpretations, both your own and those of others, as well as the motivation to explore inwardly. You will be able to discern and extract the artistic, life, and value concepts behind artistic expressions. In the final paper of the course, instead of simply piling up materials, you will be able to record your genuine feelings when facing paintings in a keen and delicate way, and this will trigger further reflections on your study and life.

This course does not require any preparatory knowledge.

1. The supporting textbook: Twelve Lectures on Western Fine Arts, by Ruan Qing, published by Wuhan University Press in 2023.
2. A History of Art, by Marilyn Stokstad, published by CITIC Publishing Group in 2023.
3. The Story of Art, by E. H. Gombrich, published by Guangxi Fine Arts Publishing House in 2008.
4. Seeing the Artists: Zhang Fazhong's Lectures on the History of Fine Arts, by Zhang Fazhong, published by the Chemical Industry Press in 2019.
5. A History of Beauty, by Umberto Eco, published by the Central Compilation & Translation Press in 2011.
6. Twenty Lectures on World Famous Works of Fine Arts, by Fu Lei, published by China Pictorial Publishing House in 2017.
7. A Western Art History for Everyone, by Jiang Xun, published by Hunan Fine Arts Publishing House in 2015.
8. A History of Modern Western Art, by H. H. Arnason, published by Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing House in 1994.
9. Understanding the History of Western Fine Arts, by Hendrik Willem van Loon, published by Jiangsu Phoenix Science and Technology Publishing House in 2017.
10. Laocoön: An Essay on the Limits of Painting and Poetry, by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, translated by Zhu Guangqian, published by Anhui Education Press in 2006.
11. Reflections on Science, Art and Philosophy, by Zhao Xinshan, published by SDX Joint Publishing Company.
12. Legends and Myths of Ancient Greece, by (Russia) Kuhn, published by SDX Joint Publishing Company in 2007.
13. Dialogues of Plato, translated by Shui Jianfu, published by The Commercial Press in 2013.
14. Anecdotes of the History of Western Fine Arts, by Chi Ke, published by China Youth Press.
15. The Life of Michelangelo, by Romain Rolland, published by SDX Joint Publishing Company.
16. The Philosophy of Art, by Hippolyte Adolphe Taine, published by Beijing Publishing House in 2004.
17. The Story of Mankind, by Hendrik Willem van Loon, published by Guangxi Normal University Press in 2003.
18. Lust for Life: The Story of Vincent van Gogh, by Irving Stone, published by Beijing October Literature and Art Publishing House in 2008.
19. The Illustrated Biography of Vincent van Gogh, by Zhou Shifen, published by Shandong Pictorial Publishing House in 2002.
20. The Da Vinci Legacy, by Serge Brunly, published by Shanghai Bookstore Publishing House in 2007.
21. The Beauty of Architecture, by Lin Huiyin and others, published by the Unity Publishing House in 2006.
22. My Paintings Are My Memories: The Autobiography of Marc Chagall, by Marc Chagall, published by Jincheng Publishing House in 2012.
23. Light in the Darkness: Rembrandt, by Ioannis van Roon, published by Jincheng Publishing House in 2012.
24. Point and Line to Plane, by Wassily Kandinsky, published by Renmin University of China Press in 2011.
25. The Illustrated Biography of Auguste Rodin, by Zhuo Fan, published by China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Publishing Corporation in 2005.

26.On Beauty, by Zhu Guangqian, published by East China Normal University Press in 2012.

Recommendation of Film and Television Works:

The Local Series, Seasons 1-3, by Chen Danqing.

The series "The Power of Art", produced by the BBC in 2006.

Q : When will it be updated? How much content will be updated each time?

A : It will be updated with one unit at 10 a.m. every Friday. We are looking forward to meeting you.

Each unit will be updated as a whole according to the different number of sections (ranging from 2 to 6 sections) within the unit. Therefore, there will be a maximum of 6 sections and a minimum of 2 sections updated in a week.

Q : Will I miss the assignments and discussions if I don't attend the class in a timely manner?

A : Don't worry. Taking everyone's time into consideration, the deadline for all discussions and assignments is set four weeks after the release of the last unit of the course. You can get full marks for the in-class discussion section if you post more than 15 replies in the discussion area.

Q : The copyright issues of this video and the pictures.

A : Most of the pictures used in the production of this MOOC are sourced from the Internet, and a small number are taken by the teachers themselves. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the publishers of these pictures. If there is any infringement of copyright, please contact the course director, and we will replace and correct the pictures at the earliest possible time.