Art History Research Lecture --- Professor Marie Rakusanova Photography Sees the Old Anew: Art Reproduction and Nationalist Art Historiography in Interwar Czechoslovakia

Join us for Prof Marie Rakusanova Research Lecture on ‘Photography Sees the Old Anew: Art Reproduction and Nationalist Art Historiography in Interwar Czechoslovakia' and a wine reception afterwards at 79 North Street.

Since the nineteenth century, art history has often reinforced national identity and supported the territorial claims of emerging nation states. In Central Europe—where diverse linguistic and ethnic groups coexisted—art history became a tool of nationalist and ideological conflict. The lecture “Photography Sees the Old Anew” shifts focus from texts to images, exploring how photographs of monuments and reproductions of artworks visually reflected nationalist agendas. By examining the visual components of art history publications, the lecture reveals how photography was used to instrumentalize art history. It focuses on photographs of monuments in former Czechoslovakia that were contested by Czech and German nationalist groups during the interwar period. These reproductions employed specific persuasive visual strategies, which become evident when comparing Czech and German depictions of the same monuments. Through visual analysis, the lecture uncovers how art historians and photographers manipulated elements such as subject selection, lighting, angle, exposure, and image placement to convey ideological messages. This research demonstrates how images can subtly support nationalistic narratives and highlights the importance of visual literacy in interpreting both historical and contemporary representations in art history.

Prof. Marie RakuSanovå, Ph.D., is a full professor in the Department of Art History at Charles University in Prague. Her scholarly focus lies in the history of European modern and avant-garde art, photography, and methodologies of art history. She was awarded her professorship in 2023, following her habilitation in 2011 and her Ph.D. in art history in 2006, all at Charles University. As part of her doctoral studies, she conducted research at the University of Dresden (2004—2005). Between 2002 and 2009, she worked as a curator of modern art at the Prague City Gallery. In 2001 , she undertook academic study at the University of Dortmund. Throughout her career, Prof. RakuSanovå has published widely in both Czech and international contexts, authoring numerous monographs and peer-reviewed articles. She has curated a number of exhibitions and contributed to various international research initiatives. Her scholarly and curatorial work has been recognized with multiple awards and research grants.