In the early modern world, ‘first impressions’ played a central role in the establishment and maintenance of individual and group identities; faces, clothes, and bodies provided a number of sensory clues as to a person’s gender, social status, age, and even health. Appearances were described, depicted, and consumed.

This one-day interdisciplinary conference takes ‘first impressions’ as a starting point in order to explore these issues, focusing on the many different ways in which appearances were understood, described, or depicted in early modern Europe, 1600-1800.

Professor Karen Harvey (University of Sheffield) will give the keynote address, and the full conference programme will circulate shortly. The conference will take place at the York Medical Society on 10th November 2016.

Admission is free, but registration is essential. You can register via Eventbrite through the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/first-impressions-faces-clothes-and-bodies-1600-1800-tickets-28050780640