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Arts & Communication Reflections on the issues of the Journal of the History of Collections

consequently, would confuse readers as they are presented collections has the potential for providing a starting point
with minor details, while the bigger picture is disregarded. for research across disciplinary boundaries. At present, the
Furthermore, Chinese academia often fails to draw a journal has archived articles featured in several specific
distinction between “collector” and “buyer” despite the fact themes, as shown in Table 1.
that they play different roles in certain collecting behavior. Nevertheless, following a comprehensive and detailed
Therefore, unless a well-informed theoretical framework is Chinese translation of all the issue contents from 1989 to
established, it is unlikely that the research into the history 2021 and a vertical systematization of the titles of all the
of collections can be contextualized in terms of social archived articles in chronological order, it is appreciable
background, economic environment, market reforms, and that the aforementioned latest research direction has,
the like . in fact, undergone three major changes, which can be
[2]
In contrast, since the 1980s, there have been attempts to decennially classified into three stages.
interpret traditional art history studies with “new thinking,” (1) From its inception in 1989 to the turn of the
thus forming a preliminary theoretical system for the 21 century
st
scholarship. Among them, Francis Haskell stands out from
researchers of this generation. His pioneering research During this stage, research was dominated by country
on arts patronage and collection tastes has provided a case studies, and the United Kingdom and the United
paradigm of how future explorations could be developed. States remained at the core of research focus. The subject-
A closer look at his methodology, which is different from matter treated in this journal during this period was
traditional research methods, reveals that Haskell’s study featured in monks, royal family members, and other
of the history of taste, to some extent, takes into account aristocrats, such as the House of Medici, the House of
the history of exhibitions, collections, and markets. It Habsburg, the House of Bourbon, the House of Stuart,
reflects that Haskell is no longer restricted to the so-called the House of Romanov, and cardinals. Consequently,
“universally acknowledged” epochal features. Instead, practices mainly revolved around the confirmation of the
his methodology shies away from deductive reasoning connoisseur circle, which was the core collector group
formed by the ruling class. Research interests mainly
that uses existing conclusions to find evidence, and he encompassed the British Museum, Rosenberg Palace,
diverts his research focus to case-studies, which to some the South Kensington Museum, and the like. In addition,
extent allows him to draw subversive conclusions through the journal also invited scholars to submit their writings
general investigation of specific materials . As more for special issues on topics related to specific museums,
[3]
information of Haskell’s academic career is available, it is including the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford
now clear that as an editorial board member, he founded and the Fogg Museum, Harvard University.
the Journal of the History of Collections in 1989. The journal
has made substantial contributions to promoting the then (2) After the year 2000
underplayed collection history studies. 1 Regional case studies began to take the center stage,
2. A look at the changes in research and the scholarship aimed to decenter Eurocentric views.
The art scholarship in Asian, Latin American, African, and
directions by combing through the Eastern European countries and regions, such as India,
publications of the Journal of the History of Palestine, Philippines, Japan, Argentina, Ghana, Ukraine,
Collections and Bulgaria, gradually came to the attention of scholars.
Moreover, traditional studies during this period were
The Journal of the History of Collections is now owned
by Oxford University Press. Originally, its publication Table 1. Specific topics in the Journal of the History of
was biannual, but ever since 2012, it publishes 3 times a Collections
year. The Journal of the History of Collections is dedicated
to the investigation and documentation of research into No. Themes
collections. Hundreds of articles regarding the history 1 North American Ethnography in European Collections
of collections have been accumulated throughout the 2 Art and the Italian Renaissance
30 years of publication. “Collection” is the main keyword 3 Jewish Collectors and Collecting
of the journal. Its editorial board has sought to provide 4 Collecting Prints and Drawings
a platform where not only specialized disciplines, such 5 Natural History Collecting
as art collection and taste, can be engaged, but practice
related to collections can also draw attention and secure 6 Art Space
multi-thematic discussions. It is clear that the history of 7 Digital GLAM

Volume 1 Issue 1 (2023) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/ac.359