Databases
for
art technological source research
Some do’s and don’ts
Ad Stijnman

What is art technology?
Knowledge
concerning the
production methods
of works of art or
craft, i.e. knowledge
concerning materials,
tools, machines,
techniques and sites
used in making
objects with a certain
cultural value / from
cultural heritage.
Art Technological Source Research

What is a source?
Any kind of
information carrier that
supplies data the
researcher can ‘read’.
Art Technological Source Research

What is source research?
Research of sources fitting within the concept of a particular project.
Art Technological Source Research

What kinds of sources are there?
Textual sources
Audio-visual sources
Material sources
Art Technological Source Research

Textual sources
Can you read?
Art Technological Source Research

Bibliography
Art Technological Source Research

Terminology & Language
Green in heraldry:
• sinople (Spanish)
• sinople (French)
• vert (English)
• sinopel (Dutch)
• grün (German)
Art Technological Source Research

Audio-visual sources
What do you hear & see?
Art Technological Source Research

Divide between ‘descriptive’ and ‘prescriptive’ sources
Art Technological Source Research

Material sources
What black is this?
Art Technological Source Research

Any place, period, art or craft
Art Technological Source Research

Concept & material
“I think mediums can turn you on, they can excite you: they
always let you do something in a different way, even if you
take the same subject, if you draw it in a different way, or if
you are forced to simplify it, to make it bold because it is too
finicky”
David Hockney
Art Technological Source Research

Working group Art Technological Source Research
http://www.clericus.org/atsr/
Art Technological Source Research

What is the purpose of your data system?
• To study source material
• To gather, select and order
data on the subject
• To disseminate and
exchange information on
the subject
All this in order to develop
and extend your knowledge
about the subject
Art Technological Source Research

What data system to choose?
The technical factor
• Consider your needs and possibilities
• Choose a system that goes with the content and amount of information
• Choose hardware you can control
• Choose software you can control
A paper card file is as good as any digital system, a Word text does well, too
Art Technological Source Research

What data system to choose?
The human factor
• Managers
• ICT staff
• Administration
• Colleagues
• Politicians
• Journalists
• Museum staff
• Private collectors
• Art dealers
Everyone has his
own schedule
Do not let yourself be
overruled
Art Technological Source Research

What data system to choose?
The time factor
• You know your subject best
• Time is not an issue in research
• A process takes the time it needs
• You just want to get started
Projects must be planned
and executed with
disregard of local interests
Art Technological Source Research

Who will build the data system?
Pro’s and con’s
• You yourself always available, knows content ↔ need know-
how, costs a lot of your time
• Colleague in project short communication lines, knows
content ↔ her/his know-how and time
• ICT department internal communication, knows institute ↔
needs to know particular software, needs to make agreements
on time, does not know content of project
• External company work by contract, specific agreements ↔
does not know content of project, expensive
• Extra partner in the project available for the project, can
learn within the project about the project ↔ should know
about particular software, extra costs
Art Technological Source Research

How many levels are needed?
• Level 1: descriptions of sources
with related literature
• Level 2: information units
selected from and related to
sources
Art Technological Source Research

What data fields are needed?
• Make a wishing list
• See what others did
• Use standards
• Use existing thesauri
• Use authorized terms
• Enter and supply data uniformly
Keep it simple
Art Technological Source Research

How to process source materials?
• Orientation
• Define the subject of your
research
• Set limitations
• Gather, select, study, enter and
disseminate the information
• Feedback
Continue gathering details, there
will come a moment they start
outlining themselves and you will
see structure
Art Technological Source Research

Application in practice
http://www.virtuelles-kupferstichkabinett.de
Art Technological Source Research