The Center is devoted to a systematic approach to the methodologies and theories of art history, with a special emphasis on European developments in an attempt to offer some working frameworks for studying and teach Chinese art history. The Center intends to introduce major works by Euro-American representative art historians through publishing their translated works; to explore the interaction between art history and general history, between art history and intellectual history, and between art history and other studies; to explore the possibilities of applying Western methods and theories to the study of Chinese art history by a critical reconsideration of traditional Chinese art histories and historical methods, and at the same time introducing the great tradition of Chinese art theories and historiography to the world in the hope that Chinese art and its great tradition of art theories will occupy an important place in the mainstream of world art as they deserve.

　　Director: Cao Yiqiang