Actually, Freud was not the first to write about art and psychology. In 1886, Heinrich Wölfflin, a Swiss art critic and historian, expressed the idea that "architecture could be understood from a purely psychological point of view." Several decades later, the arrival of various modern art movements, such as Cubism, German Expressionism, Dada, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism provided a wealth of material for students of both art and psychology. After World War II, the advancement of psychoanalytical theories enhanced the application of psychology to art. At the same time, another growing field was emerging from the other side of the spectrum. This field of study was called art therapy, and it dealt with the healing power of making art.
Before, during and after World War I, modern Western society witnessed a rapid advance of technology that coincided with the development of several art movements across Europe. Unfortunately, these same modern advancements helped to produce a bloody conflict with an unusually high mortality rate. In looking back, art historians began to draw conclusions about the inter-related activities of art, war and modern society. Today, this area of study can be further pursued through an art history curriculum, which is a standard feature of most liberal arts college degrees. Many colleges and universities offer a bachelor's degree in art history, as well as more advanced programs that reward a master's or doctorate degree on completion.
Much like Freud did in his 1910 article, contemporary art criticism sometimes explores psychological themes in both classical and modern expressions of visual art. As a result, art criticism is usually considered a branch of art history, but sometimes the discipline might fall into a creative writing program. Several colleges in the U.S. offer four-year and advanced degrees in this subject. Art-related schools such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the School of Visual Arts in New York offer this type of degree, along with several other major universities.
One of the major areas of study that falls under the general heading of art psychology is art therapy. This fast-growing field differs significantly from the other endeavors in that it deals with hands-on art activities designed to help students and patients deal with physical, emotional and psychological issues. Currently, many colleges and universities offer advanced degrees in the field, and there is even the American Art Therapy Association, which approves college programs and offers support to professionals in the field. Some of the first colleges to be approved by the association are Loyola Marymount University, George Washington University, University of Louisville, Lesley University, New York University and the Pratt Institute.