Eloquent Bodies: Movement, Expression, and the Human Figure in Gothic Sculpture by Jacqueline E. Jung (review)

Gothic sculpture, particularly from the 13th century, was designed to engage viewers dynamically through 'multifocal, embodied beholding,' challenging traditional scholarly approaches that relied on static perspectives. Jacqueline E. Jung's Eloquent Bodies argues that these sculptures were crafted with an awareness of the viewer's movement and spatial interaction, creating a sense of bodily presence and emotional connection. By analyzing famous sculptural groups from cathedrals like Naumburg Cathedral, Jung demonstrates how details such as optical corrections and carved soles influenced viewers' perception, fostering empathy and identification. Her work critiques art historical methods for overlooking kinetic capacities and relies on in situ experiments to reconstruct medieval viewing experiences.

(Ed.). (2023). Eloquent Bodies: Movement, Expression, and the Human Figure in Gothic Sculpture by Jacqueline E. Jung (review). German Studies Review, 46(3), 489–491. https://doi.org/10.1353/gsr.2023.a910192