In the early modern period, artistic ideas circulated on an unprecedented scale: locally, (inter)nationally, and globally. Indeed, these circulations were among the main factors in the great fecundity of the arts during this period. This panel seeks to define the nature of artistic ideas and examine how they travelled, from the perspective of three key players: people, art objects, and texts. We are explicitly interested in circulations on any scale and without geographical boundaries: within Europe, between Europe and its (proto-) colonies, and within any other region, in the belief that the discussion will benefit from the input of researchers from different research traditions.

Possible topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Ideas of art and their circulation and transformation 
• The role of art literature in this process (art theory, criticism, travelogues, diaries, print culture, etc.)
• Artefacts as material embodiments of ideas
• Regional, national and (inter)continental networks 
• Methodological and theoretical reflections on the study of circulations, including cultural exchange, histoires croisées, assimilation, hybridity, mestizaje.

Submission guidelines

Proposals for 20-minute papers should include:

• Preliminary paper title
• Abstract of 150 words
• Keywords
• Curriculum vitae of 300 words, including full name, current affiliation, and email address

Please send your submission to Marije Osnabrugge ([email protected]) and Elsje van Kessel ([email protected]) by 25 May 2017, using the subject line ‘RSA 2018’. Applicants will be notified by 5 June.

tags: artistic ideas, circulation, mobility, art literature, methodology, networks, cultural exchange, hybridity.