Reflections on Intro to Art, Spain 2026

Lydia Crooks

I really enjoyed taking Intro to Art while in Spain, as it helped me appreciate many aspects of art and architecture. Examining the elements and principles of design such as value, contrast, and rhythm gave me a better understanding of how the aspects work together to create a cohesive piece of art. Not only that, but participating in this course as both a student and a traveler allowed me to experience a new culture. 

The top photo is a picture of the ceiling in the Royal Palace of Madrid. It is a beautiful, ornate ceiling that truly is a work of art. This was one of my favorite things that I saw on the trip. I loved the shapes of the arches and circles, the gold furnishings, and the gorgeous painting, which has an incredible amount of depth. The palace was a beautiful building with so much amazing art!

When we went to the Prado Museum in Madrid, I was very excited to see Las Meninas, a painting by Diego Velázquez. Having learned about the painting's fascinating context in class, I found it even more interesting to view in person. My host family in Spain even had a cartoon copy of Las Meninas in their home, which made me like it even more. I appreciate the painting's Baroque style, which includes chiaroscuro and a display of various emotions from the figures in the painting.  

We also went to the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Helga de Alvear in Cáceres, which featured a variety of modern artworks including installations, sculptures, paintings, photographs, and more. There was a specific piece of art at this museum that stood out to me because of its scale and creativity. It was a large installation called Power Tools by Thomas Hirschhorn that featured the themes of war, violence, and humanity. There were so many different things to observe and ponder when walking through this installation. The towering power tools, chaotic graffiti, and sobering photos of war throughout this installation work together to send a message that can be interpreted in many ways by the viewer. This powerful piece of art helped me realize that even when it looks confusing or convoluted, an artwork can be understood when studying its context and thinking outside of the box. Power Tools was a great example of this, and it was one of the most amazing pieces of modern art that I witnessed while in Spain.

This trip also allowed me to see many examples of phenomenal architecture. At the Cathedral of Seville, I was able to observe the characteristics of Gothic art through the building's vaulted ceilings, flying buttresses, and stained glass. I was especially fond of the stained glass, with one of my favorite windows pictured below, since it provided beautiful color to the cathedral and each stained glass window told a story through its portrayal of people. I also saw examples of ancient Roman architecture in Mérida, which included Corinthian columns and many marble sculptures. I enjoyed identifying the types of columns and seeing numerous examples of Roman sculptures. One of the temples from Mérida is pictured below, featuring Corinthian columns and a Roman arch at the top. 

An education in art was not the only thing I received on this trip to Spain. Experiencing the Spanish culture has allowed me to recognize areas in my life that could change for the better. For instance, experiencing siestas has given me more motivation to slow down and not let the fast-paced, work-oriented lifestyle in the United States drain my creativity. This trip taught me to find beauty in the ordinary and appreciate life even if I don't like what happens.

Overall, learning about art and architecture on this trip was an amazing experience. I enjoyed applying what I learned to the various excursions and seeing unique artwork that I would not be able to see in the U.S. Participating in this course has taught me that art is not just in museums; it's everywhere you want to see it!