Global Objects and the Need for Material Literacy
Speaker Edward Cooke; Dutch, Dish, c. 1630
Edward Cooke
Dutch, Dish, c. 1630, lead and tin-glazed earthenware with cobalt decoration, Yale University Art Gallery, purchased with a gift from Lulu C. and Anthony W. Wang, B.A. 1965.
April 27, 2024
In this lecture, Edward Cooke presents a new approach to examining historical objects. Instead of categorizing objects by geography or time, scholars can analyze raw materials and consider the objects’ functionality and origins. Cooke also discusses teaching material literacy as a means of increasing personal engagement with objects and the stories they tell.
Admission | Free
View Online
To watch the lecture via Zoom, register here.
On-Site Event
Space is at capacity. Questions? Contact bayoubend@mfah.org or 713.639.7762. The lecture takes place in Bayou Bend’s Lora Jean Kilroy Visitor and Education Center.
About the Speaker
Edward S. Cooke, Jr., is the Charles F. Montgomery Professor of American Decorative Arts at Yale University. His primary focus is material culture and decorative arts since the 17th century. Cooke’s publications include historical studies and the books Inventing Boston: Design, Production and Consumption, 1680–1720 and Global Objects: Toward a Connected Art History.
This lecture series is generously endowed by Carol and Les Ballard.