233 pp, b/w figures, in Turkish-English bilingual.
As “Art History” has been through a methodological transformation process by which it is becoming even more interdisciplinary, there is a significant need to be critical and the art historians have to find new perspectives on or new ways to conduct their researches, by looking beyond their areas of expertise to different approaches and other disciplines.
This concern could and even should be reflected on a more general responsibility of art historians and historians in general. At this point, let me refer to the White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue of the Council of Europe, launched at the 118th ministerial session (Strasbourg, 7 May 2008): “History teaching is instrumental in overcoming the wounds of the past and in promoting the fundamental values to which the Council of Europe is particularly committed; it is a decisive factor in reconciliation, recognition, understanding and mutual trust between peoples”. Historians in general, but also history of art scholars, must shoulder their responsibility on the elimination of prejudices and stereotypes among different countries, cultures and religions. One way to do is to highlight the positive mutual influences during the long history of Europe, while becoming critical at the very least to their own studies against possible ignorance and any misuse of history for ideological aims.
In view of these, the colloquium and this book aim to represent a pioneer study in the field of art history in Turkey.