nudes, antiquity, anatomy: Exhibition and Digital Project by HCDS Presents Historical Drawing Techniques

7 November 2024, by Janis-Marie Paul

Photo: JMP @HCDS

As part of the dual exhibition nudes, antiquity, anatomy: Exploring the World through Drawing at the Hamburger Kunsthalle and the State and University Library Hamburg, visitors are offered an exceptional journey through the art and science of drawing. Both exhibitions illuminate drawing as a crucial technique for knowledge transmission, showcased in both academic and private contexts. While the Hamburger Kunsthalle focuses on artistic and scientific drawings from the 15th to 19th centuries, the State and University Library Hamburg highlights the Levezow Album—an until-now unexplored sketchbook by a noble amateur draftsman from the late 17th century.

A special highlight of both exhibitions is the introduction of the interactive digital project Digital Edition of the Levezow Album, developed through collaboration between the Hub of Computing and Data Science (HCDS) and the Department of Art History at the University of Hamburg under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Iris Wenderholm. This project combines art-historical research with cutting-edge digital technologies, making the Levezow Album accessible to the public in an interactive and engaging format. The album includes drawings focused on anatomy, antiquity, natural history, and art theory, offering a captivating collection from diverse fields of knowledge from the time.

 The central goal of this project is to create an immersive and enriching educational resource that brings historical artworks and their significance to a wide audience. Each page of the digital album features detailed explanations authored by students from the Department of Art History. Alongside each image, informative texts elucidate its meaning, origin, and context. Furthermore, links to related works and original sources accompany many images, providing viewers with deeper insights into the historical contexts of the drawings.

One distinctive feature of the project is its interactive commenting function, allowing visitors to actively engage with the album’s contents. Users can suggest alternative sources, share insights, and participate in an ongoing dialogue about the artworks. Additionally, a blog on the project’s website offers thematic articles that further explore various aspects of the images, serving as an educational resource for the public.

 By combining research-based learning, digital edition, and interactive media, HCDS, in collaboration with the Department of Art History, has created a platform that innovatively expands access to art history. The Digital Edition of the Levezow Album invites users to discover and appreciate the richness and depth of historical drawing techniques and knowledge representation in new ways.

Visit the exhibitions at the Hamburger Kunsthalle and the State and University Library Hamburg, and learn more about the project on the HCDS project page and visit the  Digital Edition of the Levezow Album