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The catalogue raisonné has been the bedrock of art historical research since the late 18th century. It provides the broadest and most comprehensive record of an artist's work and their historical context. One would think that the contours of the catalogue raisonné would be firmly established by now, and in some ways they are, but new developments in research, demand and publishing have created a moment of transition and rich dialogue concerning the future of this most traditional of art research publications. Changing attitudes toward authenticity, online access and publishing, digital citations and an evolving user base all affect the how a catalogue raisonné scholar completes and disseminates their research.
Whether published online or in book form, the catalogue raisonné is a key reference tool for scholars, curators, students, artists, collectors, appraisers, auction houses and art dealers. In its simplest terms a catalogue raisonné is a comprehensive list of all artworks by an artist. This list may represent an attempt to locate and catalogue every work by a particular artist or it may focus on a particular medium or chronological period. Each entry in the catalogue raisonné will generally consist of basic information on the work, including image, title and alternative titles, date, medium, and signature or inscription where applicable, along with provenance, bibliographic citations and exhibition history. Work entries may also include information from the artist's studio such as inventory system numbers and conservation records or more interpretive commentary on the history or importance of the work and how it relates to other works in the oeuvre. A catalogue raisonné vail include a key to the entries that outlines the reasoning of the author(s) and helps the user to interpret abbreviations and other stylistic devices. Some catalogues also include essays that describe the project or interpret and contextualize the factual research gathered by the project team. In recent years, some catalogues have brought in conservators to write on the physical make-up and scientific analysis of the artist's materials.1
A catalogue raisonné is an inherently collaborative project. Researchers rely on information and support from a variety of sources, from collectors and dealers to curators and archivists to photographers and conservators. The catalogue raisonné falls at the intersection of nearly all aspects of the art world...