Dr. Arpen’s research centers on eighteenth-century Europe, with particular interests in gender and representations of the body. She is continuing research related to her dissertation, which examined the eighteenth-century French interest in bathing from the perspective of the arts, analyzing a wide range of visual material—including paintings, sculptures, prints, and architectural interiors—to explore the interconnections between bathing and period discourses on aesthetics, sensation, and pleasure.
At Auburn, she has taught introductory art history courses covering the prehistoric to contemporary periods, as well as upper-level courses on South Asia and eighteenth-century Europe.
Areas of Expertise
Research Interests
- eighteeth-century Europe, gender and representation
