How one historian dismantled the rigid barrier between fine art and craft
In short: An exploration of A.K. Coomaraswamy, the art historian who redefined aesthetics by studying Sri Lankan ornament. This lecture examines his pioneering influence on twentieth-century South Asian art history and his challenge to traditional academic hierarchies.
A.K. Coomaraswamy fundamentally altered the study of art by rejecting the conventional separation between fine arts and crafts. Through his extensive research into the ornamental traditions and aesthetic principles of Sri Lanka, he developed a new framework that reshaped how scholars and audiences perceive creative production.
His work remains a cornerstone of twentieth-century South Asian art history. This lecture, supported by Jeff Soref and Paul Lombardi, investigates the lasting implications of his scholarship and how his unique perspective continues to inform our understanding of artistic value today.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Annual South and Southeast Asian Art Lecture
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