with Juliet Simpson, Coventry University - Merse Pál Szeredi, Kassák Museum - Anna Pravdová, National Gallery Prague - Andrea Kollnitz, Stockholm University - Klára Kudlová, Czech Academy of Sciences - Harriet Atkinson and Sue Breakell, University of Brighton - Kate Kangaslahti, University of Leuven - Lena Magnone, Collegium de Lyon - Kateřina Piorecká, Czech Academy of Sciences - Anne Hultsch, Universität Wien - Anastasiia Oleshchuk, University of Oxford - Veronika Králová, Masaryk University - Anastassiya Filcheva, École Normale Supérieure Paris - Jan Váňa, Czech Academy of Sciences - Deaglán Ó Donghaile, Liverpool John Moores University - Ilya Kalinin, Humboldt Universität - Františka Schormová, Czech Academy of Sciences - Daria Sorokina, École Normale Supérieure Paris - Marta Rakoczy, University of Warsaw - Virginia Pili, University of Florence - Vera Otdelnova, University of Oxford - Jiao Feng, Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Kristóf Nagy, Central European University - Vera Guseynova, École des hautes études en sciences sociales, Paris - Anastasia Arefieva - Willem Jan Renders - Dennis Ioffe, MODERNITAS ULB - Petra James and Barbora Svobodová, MODERNITAS ULB

International and interdisciplinary workshop "Backstage of Modern Art: Market, Industry and Propaganda that Shaped the Art and Literature in 1890-1960s"—since 10 to 12 February 2025, Maison des Sciences Humaines, Université libre de Bruxelles

What made modern art and literature thrive in the 20th century? Beyond revolutionary aesthetics and iconic movements lies a complex story of markets, patrons, propaganda, and power. Industrialists like the Baťa family, publishers such as Sylvia Beach, or collectors and art dealers like Gertrude Stein or Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler played pivotal roles in supporting and shaping creative endeavors. At the same time, new media like photography and cinema revolutionized artistic expression, enabling collaborations that not only advanced the arts but also served as tools for ideological messaging, as seen in early propaganda films and colonial exhibitions.

Our workshop, ""Backstage of Modern Art"" will delve into these intricate dynamics, examining how economic systems, political agendas, and cultural policies influenced the creation and dissemination of art and literature. By bringing together regional and global perspectives, we will explore the varied experiences of artists and cultural institutions, from the heavily regulated environments of totalitarian regimes in Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia to the relatively open and democratic markets of France, Czechoslovakia, or the United States, and beyond. Special attention will also be given to the often-overlooked contributions of women, whose roles in publishing, curating, and patronage ensured the survival and success of many artistic movements.

By combining historical case studies with theoretical insights from sociology, semiotics, and cultural economics, the workshop aims to foster a deeper understanding of the economic, social, and ideological frameworks that shaped modernist art and literature. With the participation of leading experts, we intend to illuminate not only the forces at play during this transformative period but also their lasting impact on our cultural landscape today.

Program here

Monday 10th until Wednesday 12th February 2025, from 1 pm until 5 pm

Salle de réception
Bâtiment DE1 – Niveau 3 – R3.105
Avenue Antoine Depage 1
1000 Bruxelles

Free entrance

Contact: barbora.svobodova@ulb.be