Studio studies and photographs of Brazilian painters' studios

Abstract

In Western art historiography, the artist's studio is not a new topic, but the interest it has aroused in recent years seems to point to the emergence of a new field of investigation, the so-called studio studies. The studio studies assume that the topic of the artist's studio is very important for the understanding of art production and reception, as well as of the ways in which the artist’s self-image is built. But what exactly is this new field of investigation? Which potential contributions can it bring to Brazilian art history of 19th and early 20th centuries? This paper strives to answer these and other questions, focusing on photographs of Brazilian painters’ studios from the early 20th century.