An art historian is a person who studies the historical aspects of artworks, such as the artistic movements to which they belong and the social and political contexts in which they were created, as the title suggests. Beyond this basic definition, an art historian’s job can be described in a variety of ways. Some art historians teach, while others work as curators or conservationists. Others pursue careers in publishing or journalism, or as appraisers. The majority of art historian jobs require a master’s degree.
Art historians frequently pursue education as a career path. Some people choose to teach in high schools. Art historians interested in education, on the other hand, are more likely to teach at the college level. A professor of art history is generally expected to conduct her own research in addition to giving lectures to undergraduate and graduate students in her areas of expertise, and she may be required to publish books or scholarly articles on that research. She may also be expected to lead student field trips to culturally significant locations.
An art historian who wants to work as a curator is not uncommon. A curator works for an art gallery or museum most of the time, but she could also work for a large commercial company that exhibits a lot of art. A curator’s responsibilities vary, but she will typically be involved in acquiring new works of art, deciding how they should be displayed, and ensuring that works that are not in use are properly stored.
Another common path for art historians is preservation work. This job entails preserving artworks such as paintings, sculptures, and buildings as closely as possible to their original state. Controlling environmental factors like lighting and temperature may be necessary to achieve this goal. It may also entail performing restorative work to reduce the amount of damage a piece sustains over time.
If an art historian has a knack for writing or editing, she might want to work in journalism or publishing. An art history journalist contributes articles to magazines and newspapers on art-related topics. An art historian who works in publishing can write textbooks on various aspects of art history or edit the work of other authors in the field.
Another popular option for art historians is appraisal work. In this position, the historian applies her extensive knowledge to determine the monetary value of artworks. She could work for a fine art auction house or for an estate sale company.
A master’s degree is required for the majority of art history jobs. Most art educators, curators, and preservationists at the college level require a PhD in art history with a specialization in their field. A master’s degree may be required of an art historian who wishes to work in journalism, publishing, or art appraisal.