Körpersehen : über das Haptische bei Alois Riegl

This historiographic article discusses the sense of touch in the writings of Viennese art historian Alois Riegl and relates it to debates in 19th-century sense physiology. Starting point is the current reception of Riegl in Deleuze and feminist art/film theory as well as Walter Benjamin’s earlier reception, and the positive embrace of Riegl as a theorist who particularly valued touch. In investigating Riegl’s discussion of the sense of touch through his writings, I argue that a more differentiated view is required. In his attempt to write a history of perception, Riegl argues for a development from the haptic to the visual, and thus considers visual perception as more advanced. The haptic is often related to a more instinctive, animal reaction, and mentioned in Riegl’s essays along with a concern about the modern urban culture, and debates around Darwinism. On the other hand, Riegl acknowledges the role of the sense of touch for spatial perception – an argument he makes fully inform...