Catalogue Raisonnés in the Digital Age: Not just for Dead Artists
Artworks immortalize the lives of the artists, and catalogue raisonné is one way to keep their legacies alive. Catalogue raisonné creates cultural and financial value in the long term as it allows artists to
Preserve the legacy of the artist and work
Document artist's work and history of ownership
Maintain the validity and authenticity of artwork going into the market
WHAT IS A CATALOGUE RAISONNÉ, AND WHY IS IT RELEVANT TODAY?
In the digital age, we find a plethora of useful (sometimes unreliable) information floating around the web at our fingertips. Accessibility of the information on an artist and their work is a time-consuming process and not always transparent. Catalogue raisonné provides a resource to find all information on an artist in one place. Derived from French, meaning "reason," catalogue raisonné is a comprehensive publication that illustrates the overall works of an artist created during his or her lifetime. First introduced in the 19th century as a biographical form, it evolved to distinguish authentic work from forgeries, which is still relevant and ongoing.
The author of catalogue raisonnés is usually the expert on a particular artist, art historian, artist, artist's heirs, foundations, art collector, or sponsor. The latter category, in some cases, creates controversy, which will be discussed in detail later. However, there is no official standard format as it varies from artists to artists, mediums, and practices. If done correctly, this can serve as an invaluable resource for scholars, curators, and the art market.
As a rule of thumb, a comprehensive catalogue raisonné includes the following basic info:
Title
Date of the work
Medium
Dimension
Signature
Bibliographical reference
The crucial distinction from a standard exhibition catalogue and determination of the value of an artist's work are provenance, authenticity, condition, exhibition history, and quality. One of the challenging aspects of evaluating and appraising artwork is pricing due to its subjective interpretations. The following criteria offer a guideline to determine the value of an artwork:
PROVENANCE
One of the controversial yet essential elements of catalogue raisonné is the provenance or the history of ownership. Provenance traces the change of hands of work from the creation of the work to the present. Sales invoices and ledger, letters, gallery records, and auction records can bolster the evidence of the ownership. The origin of renowned famous or infamous provenance can impact the overall value of the work.
AUTHENTICITY
Validating authenticity is another thorny subject in the art world. To determine the authenticity of the artwork, especially the 19th and 20th centuries, require precise physical condition, provenance, and historical analysis. In some cases, works with tons of "supporting" documentation turn out to be forgeries, as the information does not align with the historical and scientific evidence of the work.
CONDITION
The physical state can affect the value of the work. In some instances, an artwork that underwent several and severe restorations can do more damage than good. Substantial flaws and repairs depreciate the value of the work.
EXHIBITION HISTORY/BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCE
As the saying goes, "exposure is the currency in the art world." This section traces the history of "exposure," such as exhibitions and publications of work throughout its lifespan. Comparatively, an artwork with an extensive exhibition history and references has a higher value than those with less exposure.
QUALITY
Again, not all quality is equal to an individual artist's oeuvre. Sometimes an artist experiments with an idea, thus takes less time on one work than the other. It takes time to train your eyes to discern between high and low-quality work within the artist's overall work.
CONCLUSION
The proof of ownership and authenticity can impact the overall value of the work in the art world and create controversies. The authors of catalogue raisonnés are hesitant to offer opinions about the authenticity of work due to legal disputes and controversies surrounding the multiple versions of the catalogue from different sources. Numerous versions of Amedeo Modigliani's catalogue raisonnés are infamous examples. Published by scholars and sponsors, these editions raise questions on the authenticity of Modigliani's works based on inclusions and omissions in their respective catalogues. Another interesting study case is Francis Bacon's catalogue raisonné, in which he includes the artworks that were destroyed and abandoned. In Bacon's case, this beneficial information helps discern forgeries and original work.
Catalogue raisonnés is a costly and timely investment. It often takes at least a decade to produce and involves an entire operation staff. One solution to resolve the controversy around provenance and authenticity is the technology and starting the process early on during an artist's lifetime and career. Technology enhances the traditional format of catalogue raisonnés as opposed to the print format. The digital catalogues create a living, perpetual legacy for artists.
The technology enables the artists to
Be in control of their data- the ability to update the records as the provenance and exhibition history evolves
Secure and authenticate the data with proper backup systems in place
Integrate links to the internal archival materials, such as video and audio materials
Provide links to checklists and exhibition photographs
Offer link to external sources, such as press articles, archival holdings, other publications, public search engines, and databases