ad stijnman (icn), databases for art technological source research: some do's and don'ts

DatabasesDatabasesfor for

art technological source art technological source researchresearch

Some do’s and don’tsSome do’s and don’ts

Ad StijnmanAd Stijnman

Art Technological Source Research

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.

What is a source?

Any kind of information carrier that supplies data the researcher can ‘read’.

What is source research?

Research of sources fitting within the concept of a particular project.

What kinds of sources are there?

Textual sourcesAudio-visual sources

Material sources

Textual sourcesCan you read?

Bibliography

Terminology & Language

Green in heraldry:• sinople (Spanish)• sinople (French)• vert (English)• sinopel (Dutch)• grün (German)

Audio-visual sourcesWhat do you hear & see?

Divide between ‘descriptive’ and ‘prescriptive’ sources

Material sourcesWhat black is this?

Any place, period, art or craft

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

Working group Art Technological Source Research

http://www.clericus.org/atsr/

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

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

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

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

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

How many levels are needed?

• Level 1: descriptions of sources with related literature

• Level 2: information units selected from and related to sources

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

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

Application in practicehttp://www.virtuelles-kupferstichkabinett.de

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