Projects / Programmes
Visual Arts between Censorship and Propaganda from the Middle Ages to the End of World War I
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.09.00 |
Humanities |
Art history |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H310 |
Humanities |
Art history |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.04 |
Humanities |
Arts (arts, history of arts, performing arts, music) |
visual arts, censorship, propaganda, Hapsburg Empire, middle ages, early modern period, 19th century, first world war, political iconography
Researchers (12)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
The proposed interdisciplinary applicative project will focus on hitherto less researched topics from the field of propaganda and censorship in the visual arts from the Middle Ages to World War I, i.e. the period when Slovenian territory was a part of the Habsburg Monarchy. The project’s main research question is how propaganda and censorship influenced the visual arts in the Habsburg Empire and its reception. This question will be addressed from two perspectives: from the perspective of the capital (Vienna, also Graz in the early modern period) and from the perspective of the provinces (Carniola and Styria). The point of origin of the project is the fact that throughout history the fine arts and politics (as well as ideologies) were closely interconnected through censorship and propaganda. Therefore, the objective of the proposed project is to investigate visual arts in the Habsburg Monarchy from these two largely neglected perspectives, which are with regard to Slovenian territory, a large desideratum. The methodological point of reference for the proposed interdisciplinary project is the hypothesis that fundamental art historical research of any research field cannot be realised without an appropriate historical context. As the concepts of propaganda and censorship in the Habsburg Monarchy have been given little attention in historical discourse, the project will be interdisciplinary in nature, combining historical and art historical research. Due to the close historical and art historical connections binding Slovenia and Austria, the project will be carried out by Slovenian and Austrian researchers. This is the only way of ensuring the effective transfer of ideas and findings as well as a more comprehensive insight into the proposed subject.
Research into propaganda and censorship in the visual arts of the Habsburg Monarchy will focus on three respective periods: The Middle Ages, Early Modern Period and the long 19th century. Since this project is the first research on this topic in Slovenia, we will, in accordance with the project team structure, focus on selected research themes within given periods.
Research into the Middle Ages will focus on the House of Cilli, the most important aristocratic family to rule the greater part of Slovenian territory in the Middle Ages beside the House of Habsburg. In accordance with their social standing, the House of Cilli carefully planned the family propaganda, also by artistic means, to successfully rival the Habsburgs.
The studies into the extensive field of propaganda and censorship in the early modern period will focus on two main visual means: portraits (sculpture, painting) and prints (political broadsheets). The project team will study the aspects of propaganda in visual art during the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, Ottoman wars, during the rise in the Emperor’s absolute power, and in relation to other (religious) communities (Jews, Turks and protestants).
Censorship and propaganda reached their heyday in the long 19th century; research on this period will focus on two aspects: propaganda in the service of national awakening (as affirmation of individual nations through architecture) and World War I.
In recognition of the importance of dissemination, the research is also conceived as an applicative research project, especially in regard to World War I; the findings will be presented in exhibition form (with the use of digital humanities).
The project team consists of renowned researchers, postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students from the Department of Art History of the University of Maribor, France Stele Institute of Art History, Milko Kos Historical Institute, and Institute for Research Into Early Modern Period in Vienna. The research findings will be published as original scientific articles, and presented to the wider public through an exhibition, lectures and conferences.
Significance for science
The project will have multifold impact on the development of both disciplines. It will result in fundamental new findings in the fields of history and art history. It will, above all, increase understanding of censorship and propaganda, two aspects of visual arts, which have hitherto been given less attention in art historical studies of the wider region, hereby by focusing on the extensive time frame, from the Middle Ages to the end of the World War I. The project is conceived as an international cooperation of Slovenian and Austrian research teams. This will contribute to a more comprehensive insight into the proposed research topic. The findings will be applicable also to other fields of humanities (above all anthropology and theology) and social studies as well as other research fields which will include research into cultural, national and political past. The project researches will enable evaluation and enable the Slovenian artistic heritage to be more effectively placed
within European context. One of the objectives of this project is to establish a leading research team for this field of research comprising researchers of all generations, i.e. senior researches, junior researchers at the beginning of their careers, such as postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students. By strengthening and promoting cross-generation cooperation, knowledge and experience exchange, we will include younger generations of art historians in the research work. The project will bring numerous opportunities for cooperation with other European countries; above all, with researchers in the countries which once formed Austro-Hungary, especially with Austria. The close cooperation with Institute for Research into Early Modern Period in Vienna is predicted, with which workshops will be co-organized as well as an international conference. Slovenian and Austrian research teams will cooperate in organizing exhibition on the World War I. With such cooperation, we wish to encourage and increase the transfer of research findings and, at the same time, promote and encourage use of new methodologies.
Significance for the country
Project findings will be directly applicable in the preservation of cultural heritage and presentation of cultural monuments. They will also have an important impact on tourism and education. Fundamental researches in humanities do not have an immediate economic value; nevertheless, by tackling a wide historical time frame (extending from the Middle Ages to the end of the World War I.) and focusing on two hitherto overlooked aspects of artistic heritage in Slovenia, this project will also contribute to the promotion of cultural tourism, in particular destinations including researched monuments. Including Slovenian heritage within wider context of the former Habsburg Monarchy will contribute to greater recognizability of Slovenian heritage in Central Europe, which is another insufficiently explored potential of tourism. Project will significantly contribute also to all the three levels of the university program. Since most of the team members are affiliated at the University of Maribor, University of Vienna and University of Graz, as well as the University of Nova Gorica, this will enable direct dissemination in the study programs.
Most important scientific results
Final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report,
final report
