French Literature Reviews - 2026

Victor I. Stoichita, Les Fileuses de Velázquez. Textes, textures, images
Art and Visual Culture

"What can we still learn today from these journeys, whether real or virtual, which serve as ways to circulate gazes, images, and values? What representation of humanity did Europe forge and transmit at the dawn of modernity? Answering these questions entails an excursion into the rich realm of an 'iconosphere' that has not yet yielded all its secrets. This research will follow two main axes. The first will address the theme of borders and their transgression. The second will examine the formation—across obstacles and hurdles—of a weave—a 'web,' one might say today—born from the incessant intertwining of forms, colors, representations, and figurations."

This volume contributes to the broader field of art history and visual culture studies by investigating how European modernity shaped and transmitted representations of humanity through various visual media. The study engages with established discussions concerning the interpretation of iconic works and the complex interplay between textual and visual sources. By examining these historical processes, the book touches upon recurring questions in aesthetic theory regarding the circulation of gazes, images, and cultural values during the early modern period, while readers interested in the interpretation of historical paintings, visual iconography, and early modern European art may find this text relevant.