Nicola Suthor - 'Engrammatic' Lines: On Asmus Jacob Carstens' contour drawings and the aesthetics of Neoclassicalism

Lecture

7 April 2022 5.00pm - 7 April 2022 6.30pm

CWAC 157 with simultaneous live stream

Add to Calendar 2022-04-07 17:00:00 2022-04-07 18:30:00 Nicola Suthor - 'Engrammatic' Lines: On Asmus Jacob Carstens' contour drawings and the aesthetics of Neoclassicalism Image Details: Asmus Jacob Carstens, Bacchanalian Dance, 1784-86. Copyright: Klassik Stiftung Weimar, Bestand Museen The lecture is dedicated to Asmus Jakob Carstens, an artist whose art-historical significance for 18th century classicism has been cemented by many international publications, but a critical examination of his graphic work did not materialize, because the radicalism with which Carstens lived his life devoted to art and the free-thinking that he displayed in doing so seem at first glance not to resonate with his artistic work. In comparison to the grand gestures of his self-stylization as an artist genius and artist rebel, this small legacy seems pale and timid. Even his closest friend, the art theorist Ludwig Fernow, in the monograph on the artist that established Carsten's posthumous fame, described the graphic execution of his works not only as "simple" but also as "artless" and compared them to an imprint. The lecture will show that this view does not stand in contrast to Goethe's assessment of Carstens as "the deepest thinker, the most striving artist of his time in Rome", but rather in line. If you would prefer to attend the lecture remotely, you can register for the zoom meeting here. Presented by the Department of Art History as part of the 2021/22 Smart Lecture series supported by the Smart Family Foundation. This convening is open to all invitees who are compliant with UChicago vaccination requirements and, because of ongoing health risks, particularly to the unvaccinated, participants are expected to adopt the risk mitigation measures (masking and social distancing, etc.) appropriate to their vaccination status as advised by public health officials or to their individual vulnerabilities as advised by a medical professional. Public convening may not be safe for all and carries a risk for contracting COVID-19, particularly for those unvaccinated. Participants will not know the vaccination status of others and should follow appropriate risk mitigation measures. CWAC 157 with simultaneous live stream Department of Art History drupal@seastar.uchicago.edu America/Chicago public

Image Details: Asmus Jacob Carstens, Bacchanalian Dance, 1784-86.
Copyright: Klassik Stiftung Weimar, Bestand Museen

The lecture is dedicated to Asmus Jakob Carstens, an artist whose art-historical significance for 18th century classicism has been cemented by many international publications, but a critical examination of his graphic work did not materialize, because the radicalism with which Carstens lived his life devoted to art and the free-thinking that he displayed in doing so seem at first glance not to resonate with his artistic work. In comparison to the grand gestures of his self-stylization as an artist genius and artist rebel, this small legacy seems pale and timid. Even his closest friend, the art theorist Ludwig Fernow, in the monograph on the artist that established Carsten's posthumous fame, described the graphic execution of his works not only as "simple" but also as "artless" and compared them to an imprint. The lecture will show that this view does not stand in contrast to Goethe's assessment of Carstens as "the deepest thinker, the most striving artist of his time in Rome", but rather in line.

If you would prefer to attend the lecture remotely, you can register for the zoom meeting here.

Presented by the Department of Art History as part of the 2021/22 Smart Lecture series supported by the Smart Family Foundation.

This convening is open to all invitees who are compliant with UChicago vaccination requirements and, because of ongoing health risks, particularly to the unvaccinated, participants are expected to adopt the risk mitigation measures (masking and social distancing, etc.) appropriate to their vaccination status as advised by public health officials or to their individual vulnerabilities as advised by a medical professional. Public convening may not be safe for all and carries a risk for contracting COVID-19, particularly for those unvaccinated. Participants will not know the vaccination status of others and should follow appropriate risk mitigation measures.