Eyewitnessing: The Uses of Images as Historical Evidence

Eyewitnessing evaluates the place of images among other kinds of historical evidence. By reviewing the many varieties of images by region, period, and medium, and looking at the pragmatic uses of images (e.g. the Bayeux Tapestry, an engraving of a printing press, a reconstruction of a building), Peter Burke sheds light on our assumption that these practical uses are “reflections” of specific historical meanings and influences. He also shows how this assumption can be problematic.
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