The genesis and early history of the International Society for Education through Art: Idealism and optimism after the destruction of two World Wars.

This article traces the origins and early development of the International Society for Education through Art (InSEA) from 1941 to its first general assembly in 1954, situating it within the broader post-World War II context of international cooperation under the United Nations and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). It highlights key events including UNESCO's founding mission to promote peace through education and culture, the 1951 UNESCO seminar on visual arts education in Bristol, and the influential role of British art theorist Herbert Read in shaping InSEA's philosophy and name. The article details the formation of InSEA's provisional committees, its initial programs promoting art education internationally, and its establishment as a global federation aimed at fostering education through art to support intellectual, emotional, and social development. It also reflects on UNESCO's continuing relevance amid contemporary challenges to cultural diversity and freedom of expression.