What makes a book sharp and witty? How did early modern print culture shape the way we read, think, and communicate today? The Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania and the National Museum of Lithuania invite scholars to unravel these questions at the international conference “Acutus et Argutus: Early Modern Print Culture in Motion.” The event celebrates the legacy of Matthias Casimirus Sarbievius (1595–1640), a master of Baroque poetry and literary theory, whose work “De acuto et arguto” delves into the aesthetics of wit and piercing style in literature. This concept of sharpness and agility in expression mirrors the dynamic transformations that swept through book culture during the early modern period.
The conference will bring together scholars from diverse fields – including book history, print culture, Baroque studies, and documentary heritage – to explore the evolution of books, printing, and readership from the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries. Through interdisciplinary dialogue and innovative research approaches, we aim to reveal new insights into early printed books and their vibrant journey across time and space.
We welcome papers that explore but are not limited to the following topics:
- Books and print culture in the early modern period: The rise of printing houses, evolution of book design, typography, and the interplay between Baroque visual culture and book aesthetics.
- Readers, circulation, and provenance: The dissemination of books, evidence of reading practices, and the rich cross-cultural exchanges fascilitated by the printed word.
- New approaches to early printed heritage: Harnessing digital humanities, AI–driven research, forensic analysis, and conservation techniques to uncover hidden stories in early modern printed texts.
- Diverse voices in early modern book culture: highlighting women’s roles, exploring the influence of different cultural groups, and integrating non-European book cultures into the broader narrative of early modern print networks.
Submission Guidelines
We welcome proposals from scholars at all career stages by 30 April 2025. Submissions should include:
- Author(s) name, affiliation, and contact information
- Title of the presentation
- Abstract (200–250 words)
- Short bio (max. 150 words)
