Art and Art History

Start with Keywords

All research begins with the language that you use to think about your topic. This language provides keywords to frame your research topic. Start your search by developing a simple concept map of your topic using keywords to search for books, DVDs, and other material in the LCC Library catalog.

Here is a simple keyword map to begin research on feminist art and artists in the US. You won't use all the terms at once, but this will help you keep track of your search terms.

* this truncation will search both feminism, feminist

Subject Headings

A subject heading is a phrase used to describe content or subject matter. The keywords you use to describe your topic may not be the same words as the subject headings used in the catalog. If you were looking for book on German painters, you could search for keywords German painting or use the subject heading, “Painting--German”

While complicated, subject headings are really useful. Always start your search by using keywords in your own natural language. From the catalog results list, find an item of interest and click on the full record to see the subject headings assigned to that item. Click on the relevant subject heading to retrieve more items in the same category. Be sure to keep track of particular phrases that narrow or broaden your results.

Many subject headings provide detailed information about the item's contents.  Use LC headings in the subject field of a search in the LCC Library catalog. Always remember to ask a Librarian if you need help finding materials for your research.

Visit our streaming platform Kanopy for dozens of films about art, artists, and architecture.

Browse the collection on Visual Arts. Browse the collection on Architecture.

We have many DVDs on art history, art-making, and artists through the ages. Use the Library catalog to find DVDs and streaming video on artistic movements and artists.  Some titles include: