Enkele tendense in kunshistoriese navorsing in Suid-Afrika

Abstract

As vertrekpunt vir 'n moontlike bree oorsig van die groei van Kunsgeskiedenis in Suid-Afrika, bied hierdie artikel enkele bevindings op grond van die gelewerde formele studies oor die afgelope vyftig jaar. Aan die hand van syfers word opvallende tendense in die studies aangetoon, wat verdere besinning regverdig, veral teen die agtergrond van die huidige maatskaplike veranderings. In die eerste plek blyk dit dat groter aandag aan die bekendstelling van die navorsingsbevindings gegee kan word. Tweedens is die verhouding van teoretiese studies ten opsigte van ondersoeke oor kunswerke besonder hoog, veral op die gebied van beeldende kuns. By hierdie deeldissipline is die voorkeur vir nie-Suid-Afrikaanse onderwerpe ook opmerklik. In die algemeen kom dit voor asof ten minste tot onlangs, konvensionele onderwerpe en veral die wat op tegniese aspekte fokus, wye belangstelling gewek het. Die nuutste metodologiese benaderings het nog nie behoorlik in die vakgebied posgevat nie. Die omstandighede waarbinne kunshistorici leef, sal ongetwyfeld tot koersaanpassings lei in die tendense wat vir vyftig jaar gegeld het.

On the basis of completed formal studies in Art History over the past fifty years this article presents some findings which may serve as a basis for a comprehensive review of the development of the discipline in South Africa. By using figures, distinctive tendencies are pointed out which demand further reflection, especially against the background of the current changes in our society. In the first place more could be made of the dissemination of research findings. Secondly the relationship between theoretical studies as against studies on works of art is exceptionally high, especially in fine art. This field also favours non-South African subjects. In general it seems, at least until recently, that conventional subjects, particularly those of a technical nature, received the most attention. New methodogical approaches have not yet been pursued properly in Art History. However, the context in which art historians live will undoubtedly lead to changes in the direction taken during the past fifty years.