Diego Velázquez (1599–1660) is one of the great masters of Western art, admired for his extraordinary ability to make paint feel alive and for his subtle, searching approach to reality. This four-session course introduces Velázquez through a selection of his most important works in the Prado Museum, where his paintings form the heart of the collection. Together we will explore how Velázquez invites viewers to look closely—at people, at labor, at power, and at art itself. Along the way, we will consider why his paintings continue to reward slow looking and thoughtful conversation, whether encountered in the museum or from afar. This course will be especially appealing to those who enjoy cultural travel, museum visits, and discovering how great works of art reveal more over time.

Subject: art history

Cynthia Slagter recently retired as Director of Off-Campus Programs at Calvin University and professor of Spanish and has more than twenty years of experience in international education and cultural programming. She has lived and worked in Spain and regularly leads learning experiences that connect art, place, and history. Her teaching emphasizes careful observation, cultural context, and the pleasure of discovering meaning through close looking.