Talking Things

You are warmly invited to participate in the next session of Talking Things, an interdisciplinary discussion group about material culture, bringing together scholars from a range of Schools who work on material objects. We meet twice per semester and always try to do so in the presence of the things about which we talk.

Early Modern Woodblocks
José Ramón Marcaida (School of Art History)

This session will address the renewed interest in early modern woodblocks as objects of historical enquiry. The session will explore what the study of woodblocks and their makers can reveal about early modern practices like the production of scientific illustrations. It will also address current approaches to the study of woodblocks and image-making -- including historical reconstruction and "learning by doing" methods -- and their potential for research and public engagement projects. Ultimately, the aim is to gain an awareness of the value and significance of woodblocks -- and not just the images produced with them -- as sources for historical investigation.