Key research themes
1. How can computational and stochastic methods quantify and analyze the complexity and stylistic evolution in art history?
This theme focuses on leveraging mathematical, stochastic, and information-theoretic models to objectively quantify visual complexity, capture stylistic signatures, and understand the evolution of artistic styles. It aims to transcend subjective aesthetic judgments by employing quantitative tools such as normalized compression, stochastic 2D tools (e.g., climacograms), and multivariate compression ensembles to analyze large datasets of artworks. These methodologies allow for the detection of clusters, artist fingerprints, and style transitions, thereby offering new empirical foundations for art historical analysis and classification.
2. How can digital and machine learning tools, including computer vision and neural networks, aid in the classification, visualization, and cultural understanding of art historical styles and artist networks?
This research focus investigates the application of state-of-the-art computational techniques like convolutional neural networks (CNNs), deep learning, and graph/network visualizations to classify artworks by style, artist, or period with computational rigor and interpretability. It explores how machine-generated style representations correlate with art-historical concepts and how large-scale datasets (e.g., WikiArt) can be used for visual cultural analytics and network visualizations of artistic influence, thus linking art historical inquiry with modern AI methodologies.
3. How can quantification of compositional principles and the use of formal art elements reveal transcendent organizing principles and cultural evolution in art history?
This theme addresses the quantification of formal compositional rules and art elements (e.g., proportion, shape, line, color) to discern whether culturally and temporally transcendent principles underlie visual artworks. Studies employing information theory and formal analysis investigate the evolution of compositional proportions and art elements, revealing clusters and patterns that resonate with art historical taxonomy and questioning the universality of aesthetic canons while emphasizing formal aesthetics as analytic scaffolds in art history.