CALL FOR PAPERS
"Motions of the mind"
Representing the passions in the arts of the early modern Netherlands

Symposium, Friday and Saturday, November 17 and 18, 2006
Queen’s University and Agnes Etherington Art Centre,
Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Historians of southern European art have paid considerable attention to
the representation of emotions, psychological presence and interiority in
portraits and history paintings of the early modern period. There is,
however, no similarly extensive discussion about the depiction of the
passions in Dutch and Flemish art. Yet the most prominent Dutch artist,
Rembrandt, has always been famous for depicting the “inner life” of the
protagonists in his history paintings, portraits and figure studies. At
the same time, a variety of other Netherlandish artists were developing
practical and theoretical strategies for the representation of thought,
emotion and character. The 400th anniversary of Rembrandt's birth in 2006
provides an occasion to examine the rendering of the passions in the work
of Rembrandt and other Dutch and Flemish artists of the early modern
period who shared an interest in depicting the “motions of the mind “.

We invite proposals for papers that explore aspects of this theme in the
work of any Netherlandish artists active ca. 1500-1750. Case studies
might address issues such as shifting or competing strategies of
representation in paintings and other works of art, or the relationship
between theory and practice. We also encourage papers that chart exchanges
between Dutch artists and the art of the Southern Netherlands and other
countries and those that explore connections between the visual arts and
other disciplines (literature, theater, science) or between artistic
conventions and social ideals for personal conduct and self-expression. We
welcome proposals from junior and senior scholars in art history and in
related disciplines.

The symposium will take place in conjunction with the exhibition Wrought
Emotions: Renaissance and Baroque Paintings from the Permanent Collection
at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. There will be a study tour through
the galleries with the Bader Curator of European Art, Dr. David de Witt,
on Saturday, November 18, and a visit to the vaults on Sunday, November
19, 2006.
Funds may be available to cover travel costs, fully or partially, for the
speakers. A publication of selected papers is planned.

Send one-page proposal in English or French for a 30-minute talk and a two
page c.v. via e-mail to Franziska Gottwald: franziskagottwaldyahoo.de or
Stephanie Dickey: dickey.ssgmail.com .

Deadline: March 13, 2006.

Conference organizers: David DeWitt, Bader Curator of European Art, Agnes
Etherington Art Centre, Franziska Gottwald, Free University, Berlin,
Stephanie Dickey, designated Bader Chair in Northern Baroque Art, Queen's
University

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Stephanie S. Dickey, PhD
Associate Professor of Art History
Herron School of Art and Design IUPUI
735 West New York Street, HR170
Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
Tel. 317-278-9451
Fax 317-278-9435

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