Materiality in Art
“Materiality of Art and Archaeology: An Introduction to Archaeological Science and Technical Art History” offered in Spring 2016 at Northwestern University brought together an interdisciplinary group of students in both Art History and Materials Science to work with and assess objects in the Block Museum collection. Taught by Dr. Marc Walton, the course addressed the role of scientific examination in investigating the production and use of art objects. Focusing on material studies of ceramic, stone, metal, glass, and pigments as well as their binding media, students learned about the material make-up of art objects by employing in-depth visual analysis alongside elemental and chemical composition studies. Throughout the quarter, students converged in the Block Museum’s Eloise W. Martin Study Center to conduct