A Didactic Teaching and Learning Project in Art Market Research. Researching and Publishing the History of Commercial Art Dealing

Abstract

In addition to research, one of the main tasks of art historians is the authoring of academically and stylistically sound texts in differing genres. This case study of the research and publishing project Zur Geschichte des Dsseldorfer Kunsthandels (A History of Commercial Art Dealing in Dsseldorf) will demonstrate how research and writing can be integrated into teaching. The project involved supervised work with source materials, data visualization, semi-structured interviews (oral history), a supplementary writing workshop, as well as detailed feedback from a writing instructor, the teacher, and fellow participants in the seminar. In addition, the high practical relevance of the project (collaborations with galleries and art dealers) increased the participants' later employability. This paper presents both the project's general and specific study objectives (acquisition of methodologies, social and subject-specific skills), its structure and development, discusses its challenges, and critically reappraises the process. It concludes by considering the ways in which writing could be better incorporated into the teaching of Art History at university.