Interview with Xavier Barral i Altet

Abstract

The interview with Xavier Barral i Altet took place on three different occasions: between 26 and 27 November 2018, in Verona; 27 December 2018 and 29 August 2019, in Catalonia. The long conversation is divided into five main sections, organized by homogeneous topics. The first part concerns the scholar’s main life events, from his early years in Catalonia to his youth in London and then in Paris, with precise references to his education and career as a university student. The second focuses on his scientific activity, the methodological approach he developed during his university years and his subsequent teaching activity in Paris, Rennes and in the many international institutions that hosted him; it also reports his experiences in the museum sector and his political commitment. The third part considers a few of the personalities with whom the scholar came into contact and who influenced his critical thinking. The fourth contains reflections on research themes and methodologies within the discipline, while the final section deals with the future prospects of medieval art history and the role it should play in the contemporary world.