Artistic expressions have long played a key role in shaping, challenging, and redefining the Idea of Europe. From Romantic depictions of a fragmented continent to contemporary visual narratives of crisis and transformation, the arts have provided a lens through which European identity is explored. This conference examines the intersection of art, art criticism, and European thought from the early nineteenth century to today, bringing together scholars from various disciplines to analyze how artistic engagement has influenced the continent’s cultural and political evolution.

XVI Annual Conference of the Research Network on the History of Idea of Europe

University of La Coruña (UDC), Spain, 16–18 July 2025

Argument

Throughout history, artistic expressions – whether textual, visual, musical, or multimedia –have played a fundamental role in shaping, challenging, and redefining the Idea of Europe. 

From the Romantic era’s depictions of a culturally united yet politically fragmented continent to contemporary visual narratives reflecting Europe’s crises and transformations, the arts have offered a unique lens through which to explore the continent’s evolving identity.In parallel, art critics, intellectuals, and policymakers have historically engaged in a complex dialogue with artistic representations of Europe, influencing the way these images were received, interpreted, and appropriated in both political and cultural projects. The European integration process too has been accompanied by cultural and artistic imaginaries, which have contributed to shaping its ideological foundations and popular perceptions.

This international conference seeks to examine the interaction between art, art criticism, and the evolving Idea of Europe from the early nineteenth century to the present. It aims to bring together scholars from different disciplines – intellectual history, art history, cultural history, political thought, and European studies – to explore how artistic and critical engagement has contributed to the making and unmaking of European identity. 

Topics of discussion may include, but are not limited to:

• The role of the arts in imagining European unity and division
• Art as a vehicle for European integration and diplomacy
• Europeanism, nationalism, and artistic representation
• The depiction of Europe in painting, literature, music, cinema and digital media
• Art criticism and the political uses of aesthetics in shaping European identity
• Cultural support or resistance to European integration: Pro and anti-European artistic expressions
• The reception of European ideals in non-European artistic movements
• Ideas of Europe and the history of arts and literary criticism
• The role of artistic and cultural institutions in constructing European narratives
• The role of propaganda and visual rhetoric in shaping Europe’s self-image
• Street art, counter-culture, counter-aesthetics and the idea(s) of Europe

Submission Guidelines

We invite scholars to explore the evolving relationship between artistic expression and European identity.

The conference will take place at the University of La Coruña, Spain, from 16 to 18 July 2025.

If you would like to present a paper (c. 15 minutes), please send an abstract (max. 300 words in English), including a title and a short biography to Dr Matthew D’Auria (m.dauria@uea.ac.uk)

by 22 April 2025.

There will be no participation fees. Limited funding might be available, with preference given to non-tenured scholars. If funds permit, some support may also be offered to help cover childcare costs incurred during the days of the conference.

It is expected that a selection of the papers, duly revised and lengthened, will be published as part of a special journal issue or edited volume.

Organisers

• Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, University of La Coruña and University of Cambridge
• Dr Matthew D’Auria, University of East Anglia

Scientific Committee

• Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, University of La Coruña and University of Cambridge
• Dr Matthew D’Auria, University of East Anglia
• Dr Fernanda Gallo, University of Cambridge
• Dr Florian Greiner, University of Augsburg
• Dr Jan Vermeiren University of East Anglia