ABSTRACT
Diplomacy is commonly associated with the artful use of language, continuous negotiation, and dialogues between states and/or other actors. The visual plays a crucial role in diplomacy, even though diplomacy is usually seen as predominantly a language affair, emanating from the long historical association of diplomacy with oration and advocacy. This chapter discusses visual diplomacy, focusing on the ethical implications of "enframing" and the "distribution of the sensible." It examines visual engagements that hide or remain oblivious of what they exclude, or how their disclosures support but also limit our understanding of the world. The chapter examines these conceptual issues and illustrates them through practical examples. It looks at how a classic painting can be used to reflect on what diplomacy is or should entail. The chapter investigates how diplomatic practices have changed at a time when digital communication provides states and non-state actors with a range of new opportunities to create and disseminate images.
