Call for Book Chapters: "Behind the Scenes of Object-Based Art Histories"

Vernon Press invites book chapter proposals to be included in a forthcoming edited collection on "Behind the Scenes of Object-Based Art Histories", edited by Carl Schmitz and Tracee Ng.

“I guess what I’m asking is this: are these the only kind of questions that art historians should be asking: Whodunnit? Or whatisit? Is there nothing else we can say?”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      —Michael Ann Holly

From the proposition that the ontological basis of art history remains a fertile ground for discovery, this project seeks perspectives on the relationships between the objects and subjects of study within the discipline. In conceiving of art historiography as an expanse of multifarious genealogies, what are the conditions of possibility for an art history oriented toward the art object? Are other ontologically dichotomous or even non-dichotomous art histories possible? How can the single artist catalogue raisonné—perhaps the ultimate expression of subject and object specificity—be recontextualized as part of a speculative art history? With these questions in mind, we invite our colleagues to explore the possibilities of object-based art historical research through related investigations.

In addition to art historical case studies, art histories that organically reveal their holistic initial sources of inspiration (e.g. art historiography or the personal) are also encouraged, as are scholars from outside of the discipline of art history whose work nevertheless revolves around the art object.

Proposals should include a short CV or biographical statement and a 300-word abstract.  All proposals should be sent to the editors (btsbook@catalogueraisonne.org) by June 15, 2022. 

If you are accepted, we will ask you to consider the following publication details:

• Deadline for full article: December 31, 2022.
• Length: 5,000-8,000 words
• Submission: btsbook@catalogueraisonne.org

The concept for this forthcoming volume was based upon a session organized by the Catalogue Raisonné Scholars Association, and presented at the College Art Association annual conference in 2021. The four participating panelists will be adapting their conference papers for inclusion in this project. Further information on the panel is available on the CRSA website (https://www.catalogueraisonne.org/events/2021/2/5/behind-the-scenes-of-object-based-art-histories).