Abstract
The publication of Svetlana Alpers's 'The Art of Describing' (1983) and 'Rembrandt's Enterprise' (1988) has caused considerable controversy in the traditional art historical community. Opposing the realist, narrativist methods in traditional art history, Alpers advocates consideration of the descriptive or antinarrative quality of art works. In her opinion, pictorial representation is central to knowledge, rather than "meaning" being central to pictures. In 'Rembrandt's Enterprise' she depicts the famous Dutch artist as the inventory of the painter as a commodity producer.