Stephanie Leitch

Dr. Stephanie Leitch is a Professor in the Department of Northern European Art and History of Graphics at Florida State University. She specializes in early modern printmaking, focusing on the intersection of visual culture, knowledge production, and cross-cultural exchange. Her research explores how prints and printed books trained observers to systematically engage with the empirical world, bridging art history and the history of science.

Leitch holds a PhD from the University of Chicago and has authored seminal works such as Early Modern Print Media and the Art of Observation and Mapping Ethnography in Early Modern Germany. Her work often examines prints by figures like Peter Apian and Jost Amman, analyzing how they shaped observational practices in astronomy, physiognomy, and ethnography.

Academically, she has been recognized with awards including the 2020–21 Graduate Faculty Mentor Award and the Roland H. Bainton Prize. She leads a vibrant research group mentoring graduate students, many of whom have secured prestigious grants and tenure-track positions. Her courses and seminars address topics like the Cosmopolitan Renaissance, early modern print culture, and the global dimensions of Renaissance art.

Leitch’s recent projects include leading a 2023 international summer course on early modern visual data at the Herzog August Bibliothek in Germany. She actively collaborates with institutions like the Newberry Center for Renaissance Studies, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and student opportunities abroad.