Dr. Ethan Kavaler

Biography

Ethan Matt Kavaler's research focuses on the arts of Northern Europe during the late medieval and early modern periods, particularly in the Low Countries. His current inquiries involve how devotional practices shape affective engagement, ornamentation, embodiment, performance, theatricality, identity formation, and artistic expression. His past research has examined the vital and ongoing traditions of Gothic design from the fifteenth to the early sixteenth centuries, addressing the complexities of secular imagery in works by Pieter Bruegel and his Netherlandish contemporaries. Kavaler also serves as the Director of the Centre for Renaissance and Reformation Studies and holds a cross-appointment at the Centre for Medieval Studies. Among his significant publications are "Actors Carved Cast: Netherlandish Sculpture in the Sixteenth Century" (2024), co-edited volumes on Netherlandish culture and sculpture, and works addressing Renaissance Gothic architecture in Northern Europe.

Research Interests