Trish Cashen
The increased popularity of the Internet has resulted in a massive explosion of online resources. Art historical sites abound, but can the Internet be considered as a serious research tool for art history, or is it merely a toy? This paper surveys a selection of resources currently available for art history and attempts to convey something of their character, raising the question of how future developments might facilitate teaching and research. Many World Wide Web sites make ideal toys as they are attractive playthings, yet simultaneously educational. Text-based resources make less immediate impact but they can genuinely support research. Ultimately the Internet has not yet come of age as a major research tool for the discipline, and the problem is one of confidence, not content. Art historians need to lead the way in determining the sort of online services they want and must act now if they are to influence how the Internet evolves.