Art History and Anthropology: Modern Encounters, 1870–1970

This book explores the complex dialogue between art historians and anthropologists, examining their interactions from 1870 to 1970 in the colonial and postcolonial periods. It highlights case studies from various countries and explores connections and rejections between the two fields, particularly in the area of "primitive art." The volume prompts reflection on future relations between art history and anthropology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 10 January 2024
Publisher: Getty Trust Publications

While we witness a resurgence of global art and the so-called "global turn" in art history, encounters between art historians and anthropologists remain relatively uncommon. Despite a century and a half of exchanges between these epistemologies, a skeptical distance persists regarding the disciplinary other. This timely volume delves into the origins of this intricate dialogue, which unfolded worldwide during the colonial and early postcolonial periods, spanning from 1870 to 1970.

Through a series of case studies from Australia, Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, and the United States, this volume explores the connections and rejections between art historians and anthropologists, particularly in the contentious realm of "primitive art." It presents both well-known and lesser-known figures, ranging from the art historian-anthropologist Aby Warburg to the modernist Brazilian artist Tarsila do Amaral, as well as curators-museum directors such as Alfred Barr and René dHarnoncourt, and the curator-impresario Leo Frobenius.

As we engage with the ongoing discussions about decolonizing the past, this collection will provoke introspection on the future of relations between these two fields.

Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781606068793