Tomáš Arnold

2.3 The Role of Artworks in Contemporary Czech History Textbooks (Paper)

Tomáš Arnold – Department of Art Education, Faculty of Education, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic

Abstract:

The paper presents a qualitative study on the role of artworks in history textbooks. By analysing selected contemporary Czech history textbooks from various publishers, it examines how artworks are presented, interpreted, and integrated with textual content. Artworks are frequently utilized not only as tools for visualizing historical periods, events, and cultural phenomena, but also as forms of historical evidence. The study investigates whether and how artworks contribute to the development of critical thinking, historical thinking, and visual literacy among students. Furthermore, employing interviews with teachers, the article evaluates the pedagogical potential of integrating artworks into history education and offers recommendations for effectively incorporating visual art into teaching practices. The paper aligns with the thematic focus of the World Congress by contributing to a section exploring art as an invitation to unexpected territories – specifically, the territories of history education.