Tatachilla Lutheran College student Saskia Gerhardy has been awarded the statewide Flinders University Prize for Excellence in History.

In an essay that looked at Impressionist art and politics in Paris in the 19th century, Saskia brought alive the different reactions to painters such as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and Edouard Manet.

“What Saskia did so well was to show how this new style of painting changed society,” Flinders historian Associate Professor Matthew Fitzpatrick said.

“Even when it was accepted by the artistic establishment, it still provoked harsh criticism from those who feared the new freedoms it expressed.

“The judges were very impressed that Saskia recognised the enormous historical impact that art could have.”

An annual competition, the Flinders University prize for Excellence in History is awarded each year to the student who submits the best essay dealing with a topic in modern history.

Last year’s prize was awarded to Jade Pass of Loreto College, who explored Australia’s ANZAC traditions. Only the best three essays from each school in the state may be submitted to the competition.