Working Towards a Critical Race Art History

Abstract

This essay outlines the foundations and aims of Critical Race Art History, a methodological approach that examines how race operates in art and visual culture. Through case studies of artworks ranging from 18th-century porcelain to contemporary art, the authors reveal how racial hierarchies are naturalized through representation. They argue that race functions as a structuring visual logic and call for a critical reexamination of art history’s disciplinary assumptions.

Key Words:
Critical Race Art History, Representation, Identification, Social Art History, Discourse Analysis