Synopsis
David Olusoga shows how art was always on the frontline when distant cultures met.
- Programme: Civilisations
- Series: 1
- Episode: 06: First Contact
- Channel: BBC Four
- Broadcast year: 2018
- History | The Atlantic Slave Trade, 1770-1807 | The Atlantic Slave Trade | The captive's experience and slave resistance
Licence: ERA Licence required
Free to watch for UK schools, colleges and universities with an ERA Licence
UK only
Staff and students of licensed education establishments only
Cannot be adapted
Add Notes
More clips from Civilisations
06: First Contact | Civilisations
06: First Contact | Civilisations
David Olusoga shows how art was always on the frontline when distant cultures met.
Aztec Double Headed Serpent | Civilisations
Aztec Double Headed Serpent | Civilisations
David Olusoga investigates the history of the Aztec Double Headed Serpent.
Benin Bronzes | Civilisations
Benin Bronzes | Civilisations
David Olusoga visits the Benin Bronzes at the British Museum.
El Greco | Civilisations
El Greco | Civilisations
David Olusoga shows how art was always on the frontline when distant cultures met.
Jan Vermeer | Civilisations
Jan Vermeer | Civilisations
David Olusoga explores Jan Vermeer's life and work, a man who barely ever left the small Dutch city of Delft.
Johan Zoffany | Civilisations
Johan Zoffany | Civilisations
David Olusoga explores Johan Zoffany's work, which portrays a rare moment seen in the art of the time, depicting British traders cavorting with...
Maria Sibylla Merian | Civilisations
Maria Sibylla Merian | Civilisations
David Olusoga considers how Maria Sibylla Merian made use of her move to Amsterdam to promote her detailed naturalist artwork.
Maruyama Okyo | Civilisations
Maruyama Okyo | Civilisations
David Olusoga considers how Maruyama Okyo divided the line between Western and Eastern art with his masterpiece, ''Cracked Ice''.
More resources about Art History and Movements
01: Liberty, Diversity, Depravity | The Art of Gothic: Britain's Midnight Hour
01: Liberty, Diversity, Depravity | The Art of Gothic: Britain's Midnight Hour
In 18th century England, out of the Age of Enlightenment came a Gothic obsession with monsters...
Galenic anatomy | The Beauty of Anatomy
Galenic anatomy | The Beauty of Anatomy
Adam Rutherford explains Galen's theory of the four humours.
02: Andreas Vesalius | The Beauty of Anatomy
02: Andreas Vesalius | The Beauty of Anatomy
Adam Rutherford tells the story of 16th-century anatomist Andreas Vesalius, who produced the first complete account of the human...
S01E01: Monet | Fake or Fortune
S01E01: Monet | Fake or Fortune
Journalist Fiona Bruce teams up with art expert Philip Mould to investigate mysteries behind paintings, starting with what they believe is an...
S01E04: West Africa | Lost Kingdoms of Africa
S01E04: West Africa | Lost Kingdoms of Africa
Gus Casely-Hayford travels to Nigeria and Mali to explore the story behind a series of magnificent 16th-century bronzes made in...
02: The City and the Soul | The Art of Gothic: Britain's Midnight Hour
02: The City and the Soul | The Art of Gothic: Britain's Midnight Hour
As the Industrial Revolution promised more inexplicable wonders of the modern world, Gothic art and li...
Andy Warhol: The prince of Pop Art | The Forum
Andy Warhol: The prince of Pop Art | The Forum
Bridget Kendall explores pop artist Andy Warhol with the gallery director Eric Shiner, art historian Professor Jean Wainwright...
Benin Bronzes | Civilisations
Benin Bronzes | Civilisations
David Olusoga visits the Benin Bronzes at the British Museum.
Charles' image in paint | Charles I's Treasure Reunited
Charles' image in paint | Charles I's Treasure Reunited
Brenda Emmanus discusses the work of Anthony van Dyck and the portrait he painted of Charles I.
03: In the Shadow of Hitler | Art of Germany
03: In the Shadow of Hitler | Art of Germany
Andrew Graham-Dixon concludes his exploration of German art by investigating the dark times of the 20th century, dominated by fa...
Comic book propaganda | Age of the Image
Comic book propaganda | Age of the Image
James Fox explores the use of comic books to spread political messages during WW2 in Germany.
Elton John and AI | Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
Elton John and AI | Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
Sir Elton John described the government as ''absolute losers'' and said he feels ''incredibly betrayed'' over plans to exemp...
Episode 1 | Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty
Episode 1 | Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty
Michelangelo and Leonardo struggle to make their reputations in the brutal world of Renaissance Italy, as both must play a ...
03: Climate of the Times | Standard Grade Art and Design
03: Climate of the Times | Standard Grade Art and Design
Schools programme presented by Katy Murphy, exploring the fashion, music, architecture, design, and lifestyles of th...
Andy Warhol: Time Regained
Andy Warhol: Time Regained
Lenny Henry travels to Pittsburgh to witness the opening of Andy Warhol's mysterious and eccentric mega-artwork, the Time Capsules, capturing the ...
Charles is Executed | Charles I's Treasure Reunited
Charles is Executed | Charles I's Treasure Reunited
Brenda Emmanus discusses the execution of Charles I.
De humani corporis fabrica | The Beauty of Anatomy
De humani corporis fabrica | The Beauty of Anatomy
Adam Rutherford views an original copy of Vesalius' groundbreaking book on anatomy 'De humani corporis fabrica'.
Islamic Art | Civilisations
Islamic Art | Civilisations
Mary Beard explores Islamic artwork and the debates within Islam about the role of artists and images.
John Hunter | The Beauty of Anatomy
John Hunter | The Beauty of Anatomy
Adam Rutherford investigates John Hunter's radical new approach to anatomy.
Native American Indigenous Peoples | Civilisations
Native American Indigenous Peoples | Civilisations
David Olusoga views paintings of Native American Indigenous peoples by George Catlin.
More from David Olusoga
10 Guinea Street | A House Through Time
10 Guinea Street | A House Through Time
David Olusoga reflects on the past, present and future of number 10 Guinea Street.
Joint-Stock Companies | Empire with David Olusoga
Joint-Stock Companies | Empire with David Olusoga
This clip discusses the joint-stock companies set up under Elizabeth I.
03: The Two Nations | Union with David Olusoga
03: The Two Nations | Union with David Olusoga
The 19th-century union appears secure, but beneath the surface run deep divisions, leading to the emergence of a new working-c...
Finding Existing Drugs that Work Against COVID-19 | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer
Finding Existing Drugs that Work Against COVID-19 | Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer
Looking for drugs to treat COVID-19, a team of scientists established one of...
The Unwanted: The Secret Windrush Files
The Unwanted: The Secret Windrush Files
How black immigrants who made Britain their home came face to face with the government's 'hostile environment'. David Olusoga exposes...
08: The Cult of Progress | Civilisations
08: The Cult of Progress | Civilisations
David Olusoga explores the artistic reaction to imperialism in the 19th century.
Kitchener and British Empire Historiography | A Timewatch Guide
Kitchener and British Empire Historiography | A Timewatch Guide
David Olusoga explains how perceptions of empire have shifted throughout different generations.
03: Moral Mission | Black and British: A Forgotten History
03: Moral Mission | Black and British: A Forgotten History
In part three of this groundbreaking series, historian David Olusoga explores the Victorian moral crusade against ...
01: Profit and Loss | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners
01: Profit and Loss | Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners
In 1834 Britain abolished slavery, a defining and celebrated moment in our national history. What has been largely for...
French troops from Sub-Saharan West Africa | The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire
French troops from Sub-Saharan West Africa | The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire
David Olusoga investigates the WW1 experiences of French troops from Sub-Saharan W...