• Citer

Lessons of Russian Formalism for Developing a Digital Approach to Horizontal Art History

par Berquin, Elizaveta
Référence New Readings on Russian Formalism at the Crossroads of Slavic Cultural History: Primary Insights and Perspectives for Future Research(21-22 October 2024: ULB)
Publication Non publié, 2025

Publication dans des actes

• Détails
• Contenu

Résumé :

Recent developments in digital analysis methods present both challenges and opportunities for the humanities. While literary studies and linguistics have made some progress in applying quantitative analysis, art history has encountered resistance. Some art historians see the quantitative approach as a break from traditional methods of analysis, among other concerns that art is too complex to be reduced to a statistical calculation, as articulated in 'Against Digital Art History' (Bishop, 2017). Nevertheless, certain concepts of qualitative analysis in literary studies are inherited from the Russian formalists, and formal analysis remains one of the fundamental methods in art history as well. Heinrich Wölfflin's 'art history without names' approach, introduced in 1915, with its focus on the evolution of style and form, is highly relevant today in the context of working towards a more inclusive and horizontal art history. It is precisely in this context that digital humanities methods can offer new perspectives for studying familiar topics from a "distant" point of view. This paper aims to show that Digital Humanities, including digital art history, do not necessarily imply a rupture with fundamental methodologies, but can be seen as a continuation of their development and application. This continuity is achieved not only through the implementation of new digital technologies and tools, but also by facilitating the exchange of concepts across disciplines. Specifically, we will explore how the quantitative approaches proposed by the Russian formalists, particularly in Boris Yarkho's work "Methodology for the Exact Study of Literature", can provide fresh insights into pressing questions of digital art history methodology and ultimately contribute to a new interpretation of the history of European avant-garde movements.