what is TECHNICAL ART HISTORY?

"Technical Art History places the object itself at the forefront of investigation as the primary source of information. It addresses the ‘when, why, who, what, where and how’ questions of Art History, by prioritising the understanding and contextualising of an object’s making and material composition. Technical Art History employs a holistic, multifaceted and interdisciplinary research approach to construct object biographies and itineraries, offering comprehensive answers to these questions."

Erma Hermens, "Technical Art History: an interdisciplinary journey into the making of art," Research report commissioned and sponsored by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation and co-sponsored by the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam (2024)

A Young, evolving field that bridges disciplines

Technical Art History examines the act of art-making in all its facets, from all forms, times, and places. Its approach is interdisciplinary and combines the humanities and social sciences, as well as heritage science and conservation research to understand methods and materials of artistic practice. From initial idea to finished object, from making process to survival over time, the object’s biography takes central stage, set against ever-evolving cultural, political, economic, and social environments. At the core of Technical Art History as a discipline are technological texts and archival documents describing methods and materials; reconstructions as research tools; research into workshop practices; as well as exchanges of knowledge and materials between disciplines, from medieval times to present art production. Innovative digital methods are increasingly playing a crucial role within technical art history. Other focus points for current research include female artists and makers; the global exchange of techniques; the history of trade in artists’ materials, artistic and artisanal skills; the complexity of contemporary art practice; as well as the preservation of intangible cultural heritage such as the preservation of disappearing knowledge of specific crafts and artistic techniques.

What questions does TAH ask?

When was it made?
Who made it (or altered it)? (workshop practice, authorship and attribution debates)
What is it made of and how? (pigments, binders, supports; imaging and analytical chemistry)
Why was it made that way? (intent, context, technology, economy)
Where did its materials and ideas travel? (trade routes, provenance, global itineraries)