Art Hist Zoom: Art of Alcohol

Cheers! The Art of Alcohol
Three Zoom Sessions
Sat. Jan. 25, Feb. 1, 8, 2025, 1-3 pm MT

Humans have enjoyed a tipple since the dawn of civilization, and some scholars even attribute alcohol to the development of complex societies. These giddy beverages have been essential to many humans’ experiences.

Artists have joined the festivities along the way. In this course, art historian Molly Medakovich leaves “Dry January” behind and offers visits to ancient Roman banquets, Renaissance taverns and 19th-century Parisian cafes, all while exploring the pleasures of beer, wine, absinthe and more. Witness the more ceremonious side of alcohol in art with glimpses into Egyptian offering chapels and Christian rites. Explore attitudes toward the benefits and dangers of alcohol with visual campaigns for abstinence and moderation. Consider the social impact (and representations) of the cultivation of rum and its relationship to slavery and the Caribbean sugar economy.

Along the way, view drinkware (Is it true that the champagne coupe was modeled on a French royal mistress’s bosom?), corkscrews and other accessories that have elevated the experience of imbibing across time. Look at the art of wine labels and consider how their suggestive marketing sways us to purchase a bottle. Raise a glass of your favorite beverage from home (mocktails welcome) as we toast the art of alcohol and the stories of human experiences that it reveals.

Molly Medakovich is a teaching specialist for lifelong learning programs at the Denver Art Museum, an affiliate faculty member at the University of Denver and an art historian. She holds a PhD in 18th- and 19th-century European art history with a focus on women artists and gender.