Ancient is Modern

The description of a visual artwork (ekphrasis) is a central issue in modern Literary Theory and Visual Culture. Ekphrasis is undoubtedly the most traditional form of relationship between literature and visual arts. Disciplines like Comparative Literature and, more recently, Contemporary Visual culture has evolved because of a theoretical redefinition of the relationship between literature (text, words) and art (pictures). In the following pages, the specific function that ekphrasis and its theory assume in the context of contemporary Visual Culture will be examined, highlighting the connection between ekphrastic practices and some philosophical ideas of twentieth century image studies.