Current developments in the digital organization of knowledge give rise to an in-depth study in the humanities of the history of the cultural practice of capturing and storing information. This interdisciplinary anthology discusses current research issues on historical theories and practices of information processing in art history research. Using examples from the period between the end of the 17th century and the early 19th century, the contributions investigate how in Europe new ideas of storing knowledge and processing data were reflected in the fine arts and arts theory during this critical period of competing methods of capturing information.

Bettina Gockel and Miriam Volmert, Institute of Art History, Zurich.