What is the goal of art history?

Answer 1

Art history seeks to explain why a work of art was made and where that artwork fits within human history. To understand this, art history looks to the history surrounding a work of art. This includes its immediate historical context: things such as its patron, who it was made by, where the work of art was kept, and what other artworks & artists may have influenced the artwork's appearance and the way it was made. Art historians also look at a work's wider historical context, which can encompass any wars, religious changes, advances in technology and changes in industry that may have affected the way (or reason) in which a work of art was produced. Art historians may also consider an artist's own personal life and how their experiences affected their artistic production. Finally, art history may also look at the affect an artwork had on society, especially if an artwork caused an uproar or was widely revered by other artists.