At the Limit of Verbal Expression
Max Imdahl|Timothy Grundy
This essay by the distinguished German art historian Max Imdahl (1925-88) outlines Imdahl’s career and historical practice, which provide fascinating insights into development of discipline in postwar Germany. was founding member Institute Art History at new Ruhr-University Germany’s most industrialized region; he also pioneered seminars on contemporary for trade union members local chemical industry, his advocacy led to advisory role “documenta 6.” While revealing controversial status mid-twentieth-century Germany, considers it as a possible hermeneutic interpretive condition traditional art. is further concerned with process involved interpreting works art, including relationship between image verbal expression. He introduces term—Ikonik—to define comprehension an that derived exclusively from viewing. His analysis various Giotto, Ruisdael, Barnett Newman others demonstrates how Ikonik differs Sedlemayr’s “structural analysis” relates Panofsky’s concepts (Iconography, Iconology). concludes fundamental presupposition addressing cognitive structure imminent image.
Art in Translation