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Ernst Herzfeld Society

For Studies in Islamic Art and Archaeology

The Ernst Herzfeld Society for Studies in Islamic Art and Archaeology furthers research in art history, archaeology and building archaeology of the Islamic periods and serves as a fore of scholarly exchange. The Society has an international range of members and has been founded 2005 in Germany. It is named after Ernst Herzfeld (1879–1948) who is known for groundbreaking research in West Asia, as archaeologist, art historian, and historian.

Historicisms in Islamic Art:
Narratives, Materials and Perspectives

20th Colloquium of the Ernst Herzfeld Society for Studies in Islamic Art and Archaeology

Cairo (Egypt), American University in Cairo – Tahrir Campus
July 3–6, 2025

This conference hopes to explore the different ways historicism has shaped narratives, mediums, and discourses surrounding Islamic art, while also exploring its contemporary production. The concept of historicism in Islamic art, which involves the conscious use and sometimes revival and reinterpretation of historical forms and styles, offers an interesting way to explore the evolution and continuity of Islamic artistic traditions. The organizers aim to bring together and encourage the dialogue between art historians, archaeologists, cultural historians, and practitioners, and to highlight the need for the preservation and promotion of the Islamic artistic heritage in contemporary times.

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