Workshop: Between Connoisseurship and Science. New demands on the research and curatorship of drawings.

The Graphische Sammlungen of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar, Germany, invites applications for an international workshop on technical approaches to studying drawings (18–22 April 2023), generously supported by the Getty Foundation through its Paper Project initiative.

In recent years, advances in the conservation field around non-destructive examination methods — including multispectral imaging, XRF analysis, and microscopy — have catapulted forward the technical study of works on paper, and the Klassik Stiftung Weimar has emerged as a center of research in this field. But, despite progress made, it has become clear that scientific analysis cannot simply replace the traditional curatorial methods of connoisseurship, the comparative visual study of style and technique.

To explore this tension between connoisseurship and science, the Klassik Stiftung Weimar will organize a workshop for early and mid-career curators to learn about the latest technical research on drawings. Participants will draw on case studies from the Weimar collection, ranging from the inks in drawings by Rembrandt and his circle to the colors used by Bauhaus artists. The workshop aims to empower curators, who are not technically trained to understand the methods used in material analysis, grasp which art historical questions can be answered with such means and ultimately make these approaches fruitful aspects of their curatorial practice.

The workshop will be led by the curators and the conservators of the Graphische Sammlungen of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar, supported by an international group of senior scholars. Travel, accommodation, and meal expenses will be covered by the organizer.

The working language is English. German reading skills are of advantage.

Please send your application in a single pdf document to graphische.sammlungenklassik-stiftung.de, containing:

- A current CV, including name, title, affiliation, email, address, and nationality/citizenship
- A short letter of intent, demonstrating your interest in the topic and explaining how your curatorial work will benefit from the workshop
- Contact information for one professional reference

Application deadline: October 14, 2022; Participants will be notified by the end of October

For more information, please contact graphische.sammlungenklassik-stiftung.de

About us:
With about 230,000 prints and drawings, the Graphische Sammlungen of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar are among the most important collections of this kind in Germany. They offer a comprehensive overview of art on paper from the 15th to the 21st century. You will find an insight into our collection here https://www.klassik-stiftung.de/graphische-sammlungen/auswahl-von-meisterzeichnungen/.
The collection is part of the Museums of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar. Its more than 20 different institutions in Weimar and the surrounding area include for example the Goethe National Museum and the Bauhaus Museum.
The Klassik Stiftung Weimar comprises a unique ensemble of cultural landmarks. 27 museums, castles, historical residences, parks, and collections of literature and art form one of the largest and most important cultural institutions in Germany. Twelve sites are designated as World Heritages Sites by UNESCO.