Visa Immonen, Elina Räsänen

The vast complexities of the small

Introduction

The vast complexities of the small. Upptäck förminskningens roll i kyrkliga föremål under 1500- och 1600-talen i Norden. Analys av materiell och visuell kultur, religiösa bilder och andlig materia.

Abstract

Att göra miniatyrer (på engelska “miniaturisation”) innebär två ingrepp. För det första sammaflätas den “större” med sin “mindre” kopia, vilket leder till likhet i både form och mening mellan originalet och dess miniatyr. För det andra bryter förminskningen den vardagliga upplevelsen då den förvränger känslan av skala. Denna artikel analyserar dessa två förminskningens funktioner inom kyrkliga föremål i 1500- samt 1600-talens nordiska länder, framförallt i det svenska riket, inklusive Finland. Vi visar att begreppet förminskning är användbart i analysen av konstverk och andra föremål för att den erbjuder ett nytt perspektiv till kombinationen av materiell och visuell kultur, och gör det lättare att redovisa de komplicerade sambanden mellan bild och föremål. Under medeltiden var miniatyrer kopplade till materialitet och hur material upplevdes som levande och aktivt. Att förminska var ett verktyg, som användes för att skapa materiella associationer och betydelser. Skapandet av miniatyrer tillät en att kombinera religiösa bilder med andligt materia, både i religiösa och sekulära sfärer. Tekniken påverkades av förändringar i sena medeltida konsumtionsvanor, vilka präglades av privat tro.

Review

The article, "The vast complexities of the small," presents a compelling theoretical framework for understanding miniaturization as a multifaceted phenomenon. The authors propose that miniaturization encompasses two distinct yet intertwined processes: the creation of formal and semantic resemblances between an original and its smaller copy, and concurrently, a disruption of conventional scale that distorts everyday experience. Focusing on ecclesiastical objects in 16th and 17th-century Nordic countries, particularly within the Swedish Empire (including Finland), this study promises to offer a fresh perspective on the interplay between material and visual culture, thereby illuminating the intricate relationships between images and objects. The stated objective to demonstrate the utility of miniaturization as an analytical concept is ambitious and highly relevant to current scholarly debates. The abstract outlines a historical trajectory for miniaturization, tracing its roots to medieval perceptions of materiality where objects were seen as living and active. It suggests that miniaturization served as a deliberate tool to forge material associations and meanings, allowing for the integration of religious imagery with spiritual matter across both sacred and secular contexts. Furthermore, the authors link this technique to shifts in late medieval consumption patterns, characterized by an emphasis on private faith. While this historical framing is intriguing, the abstract leaves some questions regarding the specific methodologies employed to unpack these claims. It would be beneficial for the full paper to clearly delineate how the Nordic context, beyond merely being the geographical setting, specifically informs or challenges these broader historical arguments about materiality and private devotion, and what empirical evidence will be used to demonstrate the "disruption of everyday experience." Overall, this article presents a highly original and significant contribution to the fields of art history, material culture, and religious studies. By offering a nuanced understanding of miniaturization, it has the potential to reshape scholarly discussions around object agency, visual perception, and the evolving nature of religious practice in the early modern period. The interdisciplinary approach and the focused regional study within the broader European context are particularly commendable. Assuming the full manuscript delivers on the promise of its abstract by providing robust evidence and detailed analysis of its stated claims, this work is poised to be an important addition to the literature. It offers a valuable framework for future research into how scale and perception actively shape cultural and spiritual meanings.

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