Knecht paints in the “American Paintings” course trailer. Courtesy | Hillsdale College online courses website

The first episode of  Hillsdale’s latest online course, which examines America’s history through its artistic past, will premiere Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. in Plaster Auditorium.

The course, titled “American Paintings,” explores the American story through portraits of leaders, everyday scenes, landscapes, and depictions of war in a four-part series of videos, each about an hour long and is led by Professor Emeritus of Art Samuel Knecht.

In the course, Sam Knecht analyzes how several paintings were crafted — from presidential portraits to the works of Winslow Homer — as well as the motives behind their creation. 

“I believe the course succeeds in spurring the viewer to learn more about American painting and what that says about being an American citizen,” Sam Knecht said.

The course emphasizes the connection between the motivating subject and the personal philosophy of the artist. He also sees his new online course as a reflection of Hillsdale’s educational mission.

“There’s something in the first century or so of American painting that stands out for me, and that is honesty: this adherence to visual truth but also where a narrative painting is concerned — like a battle scene — adherence to the story, getting the facts right,” Sam Knecht said in a recent interview on the Radio Free Hillsdale Hour.

Sam Knecht taught in Hillsdale’s art department for 47 years before retiring in 2020. Professor of Music Melissa Knecht, Sam Knecht’s wife, said Hillsdale’s art program was set apart from those of other schools through her husband’s lifelong work.

“Sam has always been a serious artist,” Melissa Knecht said. “He’s had a career since before he came here.”

Melissa Knecht noted that her husband brought in faculty like Associate Professor of Art Anthony Frudakis, a professional sculptor with a successful career outside of teaching. 

“I think they give a good model of someone who takes their work very seriously,” Melissa Knecht said. “When they paint or sculpt, the students can see professionals working and coaching them in it. The idea of that fits very much into classical education. A lot of these other art schools are very much not like that.”