Art in Service of Revolution
Your Instructor
PhD in Art History
New York University
Caroline Goldberg Igra is an art historian, a writer, and a triathlete. She splits her time between Philadelphia and Tel Aviv. She received a Ph.D. in Art History from the Institute of Fine Arts, NYU, after studying at Brown University and the University of Michigan. Among her art-historical publications are a monograph on the Polish artist J.D. Kirszenbaum, which was chosen as one of Slate Magazine's Best Books in 2013, and numerous articles in refereed academic journals. Her creative nonfiction has been featured in several literary journals, including the Jewish Book Council's PB Daily and Collateral. She has published three novels, the last, Pictures of My Desire, in October 2025.
What you'll learn
Understand how visual art not only reflects cultural change but also encourages it.
Analyze iconic works of art that still resonate with those initiating protest, revolution, and change.
Learn how to look at artwork, describe it, and begin to fit it into specific historical periods.
Investigate the relationship between art and history, exploring the former's ability to capture societal unrest, regime change, industrial innovation, and shifting borders.
Course Schedule
This lesson will focus on the work of Jacques Louis David, an artist whose Neoclassical imagery not only anticipated the French Revolution but also documented its earliest and latest days. Explored will be the dramatic break in his stylistic idiom from the earlier Rococo Style, representative of centuries of French Monarchical rule, and the manner in which it pointed to a new future.
What You Get
Live interactive sessions
Engage in real-time discussions with expert instructors
Small discussion groups
Up to 17 students for personalized attention
Session recordings
Review and revisit class content anytime
Dedicated platform
Track progress and organize your schedule
Frequently asked questions
Course-specific questions
Your Instructor
PhD in Art History
New York University
Caroline Goldberg Igra is an art historian, a writer, and a triathlete. She splits her time between Philadelphia and Tel Aviv. She received a Ph.D. in Art History from the Institute of Fine Arts, NYU, after studying at Brown University and the University of Michigan. Among her art-historical publications are a monograph on the Polish artist J.D. Kirszenbaum, which was chosen as one of Slate Magazine's Best Books in 2013, and numerous articles in refereed academic journals. Her creative nonfiction has been featured in several literary journals, including the Jewish Book Council's PB Daily and Collateral. She has published three novels, the last, Pictures of My Desire, in October 2025.