Art history is a relatively new academic enterprise, beginning in the nineteenth century. Art history is the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and look. Moreover, Art History generally is the research of artists and their cultural and social contributions.

Advances in photographic reproduction and printing techniques after World War II increased the ability of reproductions of artworks accurately. Nevertheless the appreciation and study of the visual arts has been an area of research for many over the millennia.