Call for Papers (due on 1 Feb 2015): RACAR Thematic Issue—The Nature of Naturalism: A Trans-historical Examination, edited by Sarah Guérin (Université de Montréal) and Itay Sapir (UQAM) Proposals due by 1 February 2015; completed articles due by 1 August 2015 In spite of its inherent complexities and ambiguities, the definition of naturalism in art is often taken for granted. Indeed, the history of art continues to be schematized by dividing it into periods of greater and lesser naturalism. Thus, for instance, the remarkably life-like capital foliage of Reims cathedral is flagged as a break from a typically medieval abstract style; and the categorization of artists such as Caravaggio as naturalists is repeated, but seldom questioned, throughout the spectrum of art historical texts, from scholarly studies to wall texts addressing the museum-going public. The relations and interactions between art and nature, however, are never simple. Works of art can seek to imitate one aspect of nature while ignoring, or actively discarding, others. General interest in natural phenomena does not necessarily imply a naturalistic technique, and vice versa. The perspective shifts even more dramatically when considered within the framework of global art history. The definition of nature is in itself, of course, a fraught philosophical question, exemplified, but not exhausted, by the distinction between Natura naturans and Natura naturata. In this special issue of RACAR (Revue dart canadienne / Canadian Art Review), we seek to problematize further the concept of naturalism in the visual arts. What are the criteria that define a work, a corpus, or a style, as naturalistic? How do artists formulate an approach to nature through the related aspects of content, form, and function? Should one distinguish naturalism from realism and mimesis, terms frequently used as quasi-synonyms? Is the category of naturalistic art helpful at all for art historical discourse, or should it be dispensed with altogether? A perennial question in the history of art, the nature of naturalism remains relevant to the field. We welcome both theoretical texts and specific case studies treating questions of naturalism from any historical period, geographical region, and artistic medium. The articles (of a maximum of 8,500 words including footnotes) will be due on 1 August 2015 and will be submitted to double-blind peer review. Please email your 250-word abstract and a short CV to Sarah Guérin ([email protected]) and Itay Sapir ([email protected]) by 1 February 2015.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 12:02:22 +0000
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