Silpa Bhirasri and the Making of Thai Modern Art A Historiographical Journey
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Abstract
Often described as the “Father of Thai modern art”, Silpa Bhirasri (1892–1962; born Corrado Feroci) occupies a canonical place in Thai art history. This article adopts a historiographical approach to examine how his artistic production, pedagogical role, and public writings have been received and interpreted in Thai scholarship and how these readings have shaped his reputation and legacy since his death in 1962. Drawing on sources in Thai, French, Italian, and English, the study highlights both convergences and divergences in these discourses. It concludes by identifying avenues for future research on his role in the formation of Thai modern art.
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