Fontes visuais, cultura visual, história visual: balanço provisório, propostas cautelares

The aim of this article is to displace the historian's focus on visual sources (iconography, iconology) into a more rewarding treatment of visuality as an important dimension of social life and historical processes. After a survey of contributions brought in by Art History, Visual Anthropology, Visual Sociology and Visual Culture Studies, concerning visual records and visual regimes, the author introduces a few prerequisites for a Visual History - intended not as a new academic feud, but as a set of strategic operational means of enhancing historical research in all its domains.