Revolutions, violent uprisings, and colonial interventions: European culture was transformed by a series of social and political upheavals during the 18th and 19th centuries. These destabilizing events intersected with new modes of art production and circulation. New technologies of mechanical reproduction vastly expanded audiences. Moreover, shifting gender and class dynamics transfigured relations at every level of society. These changes radically altered the relation between art and politics. It was in this crucible of social transformation that the modern artist as we have come to know it, emerged. In this course, we will trace this rise of the figure of the ‘painter of modern life,’ focusing on political and institutional changes during the ‘long nineteenth century’ (1750-1900). While we will consider related phenomena in Spain, Mexico, Britain, and Germany, our principal case study will be France, which saw a series of chilling revolutionary moments that directly impacted modern art and politics. Whenever possible, we will work from NYC collections.