Art, History, and Re-Enactment: Michael Baxandall and the Historical Explanation of Pictures

In his important book Patterns of Intention, the late Michael Baxandall developed a procedure of 'inferential criticism' for the 'historical explanation of pictures', a model widely regarded as elegantly capturing what art historians do when they try to make sense of the style, meaning, and cultural role of pictures and artworks. The lecture explores Baxandall's concept and critique of historical 're-enactment' and assesses his idea that art-historical explanation is essentially 'idiographic'--concerned with irreducible human purposes that cannot be explicated in terms of general (e.g., 'scientific') laws. It focuses on Baxandall's philosophical sources and key examples, and relates Baxandall's art history to questions in contemporary 'visual studies'. 

Admission is free, everyone is welcome!

Please note that this is a change to our previously advertised programme.  Whitney hopes to present his lecture on an Egyptian theme at another time.  We do apologise for any inconvenience or disappointment.