Call for papers - Issue 6

‍Title:

América: Materiality in Latin American Art

Submission deadline:

30 June 2025

Description:

Materia: Journal of Technical Art History is pleased to announce a call for papers for an upcoming issue dedicated to materiality in Latin American art from the 16th to the 18th centuries– the Viceregal Period. We invite contributions that explore the use of local materials and techniques in the New World and their hybridity, offering new insights into how local and global influences shaped the art of this region. Despite growing recognition, this era remains under published and we aim to explore this gap through a multifaceted examination of materiality.

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Scope and Themes
This issue seeks to address the material and cultural dimensions of Latin American artworks, focusing on:

• The use and adaptation of local and region-specific materials, forms, and techniques such as silver, cotton, indigo, cochineal, chia oil, enconchados, featherwork, lacquerware, etc.
• The implications of hybridity, material choices, and artistic practices on meaning and function, reflecting on issues of intentionality, availability/scarcity, protectionism, geopolitics, and spirituality.
• The impact of material choices on the appearance, interpretation, and presentation of artworks, considering factors such as artist intent, aging, devotional as well as restoration/conservation interventions, interpretation/preservation bias, and shifting historical contexts.
• The role of material-centered studies in enhancing our understanding of the specificity and intentionality of objects, their cultural significance, and their regional settings.

We aim to bridge gaps in cross-cultural knowledge exchange by highlighting how material studies can provide deeper insights into both the original and evolving interpretations of these artworks.

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Submission Guidelines
We welcome submissions in English and Spanish, with translations provided for the issue. Please reach out if you are interested in submitting a paper in another language. We are seeking papers in two categories:

• Feature Articles: Fully developed research articles (up to 6,000 words) that offer comprehensive studies on the materiality of Viceregal Latin American Art. Feature articles will be peer-reviewed.
• Technical Notes: Shorter pieces (up to 1,000 words) presenting preliminary findings, ongoing research, or novel insights into the material aspects​​. Technical notes will not be peer reviewed.

International submissions, particularly from Latin American scholars, are strongly encouraged. See additional details here: Materia Submission Guidelines. As a born-digital journal, we accept submissions that use additional media, such as audio or video, in support of the article's thesis.

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Submission Deadline
We will accept papers through June 30th, 2025. Please contact us if you have submission ideas you’d like to discuss. Early submissions are encouraged. For more information on submission guidelines and to send your manuscript, please visit https://materiajournal.com/ or email us at materiajournal@gmail.com.

We look forward to receiving your contributions and furthering the discourse on this rich and evolving field of study.

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Jose Luis Lazarte Luna, Guest Editor

Associate Conservator, Department of Paintings Conservation 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Lucia Bay, Materia Editor

Bianca García Martínez, Materia Editor

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