French Literature Reviews - 2026
V. Robert, L. Le Forestier, F. Albera (eds.), Le film sur l'art
Art and Visual Culture
Valentine Robert, Laurent Le Forestier and François Albera (eds.),
Le film sur l’art. Entre histoire de l’art et documentaire de création
Presses Universitaires de Rennes, 2015
234 pages
EAN: 978-2-7535-3604-3
Price: €20.00
Publisher's Overview:
This volume outlines the history of "films on art" and examines their contribution to art history. To this end, the contributors bring together art historians concerned with the significance of such films (from Erwin Panofsky to Pierre Francastel), artists and art critics who connected their disciplines with cinema (such as Jean Cassou and Pierre Huyghe), and art historians who turned filmmakers (such as Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti and Luc Haesaerts). Beyond traditional cinema, the book also explores the role of such films on television, as well as video art.
François Albera is Professor of Film History and Aesthetics at the University of Lausanne, Research Director at the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), member of the French Association for Research on Film History (AFRHC), and editorial secretary of 1895 revue d’histoire du cinéma.
Laurent Le Forestier is Professor of Film Studies at the University of Rennes 2, where he heads the film research laboratory within the "Arts: Practices and Poetics" research team. He serves on the board of directors of the French Association for Research on Film History (AFRHC) and is the publishing secretary of 1895 revue d’histoire du cinéma.
Valentine Robert is a lecturer in Film History and Aesthetics at the University of Lausanne, a visiting researcher at GRAFICS (University of Montreal), and an SNSF doctoral researcher. A specialist in the relationship between painting and cinema, she has contributed to numerous books, journals, and exhibitions, demonstrating how films "realize" tableaux vivants.
The intersection between cinema, television, and visual arts forms a distinct area of study within film history and aesthetics. Scholars frequently examine how moving images document, interpret, and reframe artistic creations across different mediums. This volume, edited by Valentine Robert, Laurent Le Forestier and François Albera, outlines the history of films on art and examines their contribution to art history.
Readers interested in the intersections of cinema, television, and the visual arts may find this volume relevant to their inquiries. The book brings together art historians, artists, art critics, and filmmakers, and it explores the role of such films on television as well as video art.
The introduction and table of contents are available for consultation.