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In order to understand what an art history essay is; it is necessary to understand what the term “art history” means. It refers to the academic study of the history and development of the visual arts, including painting, sculpture, and drawing. Therefore, an art history essay is any essay that involves discussion of this history and development of art, and may focus on technical details of art that make it representative of a certain historical period or movement in art history. Typical essay topics may ask you to explain how a work does or does not represent a specific type of art, and will require you to analyze different aspects of the painting such as color, line, texture, scale, contrast, size, medium, subject, technique, and the use of light to support your explanation.