Broad Brush Strokes and Fine Lines: Courtroom Drawing and the Visual History of the 20th Century

Join Dr. Charlotte A. Lerg for the latest instalment of the UBC History Colloquium Series, titled “Broad Brush Strokes and Fine Lines: Courtroom Drawing and the Visual History of the 20th Century” on April 5, 2023.

• When: Wednesday, April 5, 2023 from 12:00PM – 1:30 PM (PT)
• Where: Room 112, Buchanan Tower (1873 East Mall, UBC-Vancouver) and on Zoom

In broad brush strokes courtroom sketches capture the general atmosphere of a case while fine lines point to details and pivotal moments. The combination of both creates the image we get of a trial. These drawings, because of their individual character, make exceptional historical sources that not only reveal something particular about the past, but symbolically represent the very process of how we construct historical understanding. At the same time, this unique material holds an intriguing position within the (mass)media landscape of the 20th century, which usually seems so dominated by technologically generated visual culture. The social practices of documentary drawing generally, and courtroom art specifically, invite us to develop new approaches to visual modes of documentation in the oscillations between art and evidence.

To register, please visit: https://publichumanities.ubc.ca/events/event/broad-brush-strokes-and-fine-lines/

This instalment of the History Colloquium is co-sponsored by the Public Humanities Hub (PHH). PHH is supported by VPRI, the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Education and the Allard School of Law.