Research on the Body View in Norman Bryson's Art History Theory

As a key figure in the New Art History movement of the 20th century, Norman Bryson demonstrates a unique interdisciplinary perspective in the construction of semiotic art history. His theoretical system is rooted in semiotics while incorporating the concept of the body from phenomenology. Bryson first breaks down the binary opposition between perception and symbol, unifying them within the body, then emphasizes the implicit bodily dynamics of scanning in the visual field, and treats embodiment as a characteristic of painting that forms a difference with the intertextuality of symbols. Sorting out and studying Bryson's theoretical body view helps deepen the understanding of his art history system.