A primer in the modern foundations of art history with a focus on the Germanic tradition. We will study selected works by Lessing, Riegl, Wofflin, Warburg, Pächt, Panofsky, Focillon, Schapiro, Kubler, Gombrich, inter alia, occasionally reading these against the related positions of selected current works by Baxandall, Fried, Marin, Derrida, etc. Student participation is essential. Weekly writing assignments. Primarily for first-year students in the history of art and architecture, but all are welcome.