Art historian wins ‘Belgian Nobel Prize’ for work on iconology
Barbara Baert of KU Leuven has won the Francqui prize for her ground-breaking research into the interpretation of themes in visual arts
Universal themes
For her research, Baert (pictured) establishes a dialogue with other disciplines of human sciences such as anthropology, theology, philosophy, literary studies and psychoanalysis, to broaden the scope of art history.
She specialises in iconology, the branch of art history that deals with the interpretation of themes in visual art. She mainly examines the visual culture and worship of relics in the middle ages but also deals with other periods, tackling themes such as sensory experience, health and fertility. “Professor Baert broaches universal themes that continue to occupy a central place in our society,” the jury said.
Baert’s research includes the study of previously unexplored aspects of Christian art. She has looked into the use of textiles as a metaphor and the meaning of the gaze, among others. The Biblical passage in which Christ forbids Maria Magdalena to touch him inspired her broader research on the senses in Western culture.
The Francqui Foundation awards the prize each year to an outstanding scientist in a three-year rotation of fields: human, exact and biomedical sciences. Baert will receive her award – worth €250,000 – from King Filip on 8 June.
Photo: Rob Stevens/KU Leuven
