Upcoming digital catalogue raisonné events
Claude Monet, Étretat, l'Aiguille et la porte d’Aval, c. 1885, pastel on paper, 39 x 23 cm, Scottish National Gallery. Image courtesy of Scottish National Gallery.
The catalogue raisonné community is a testament to the dedication of art scholars, collectors, and archivists. Its commitment to preserving and comprehensively documenting artists' works is an academic endeavor and often a labor of love. This community is open to everyone interested in or working on catalogues raisonnés, including purely digital publications. If you haven’t already, you can get to know some of those working in the field through annual events, ongoing web series, and recorded programming.
Explore upcoming events that highlight the meticulous research and dedication behind catalogues raisonnés. These events allow you to explore the life and works of celebrated artists and gain insights into the careful process of cataloging.
Grappling with Gaugin: International Approaches to Exhibiting the Artist’s Work in the 21st Century: Webinar series from the Wildenstein Plattner Institute
The Wildenstein Plattner Institute, Inc., founded in 2016 in New York City, is a non-profit foundation that collaborates with the Fonds WPI in Paris to create digital catalogue raisonné projects, archives, and cultural programs. These resources are freely accessible online, emphasizing the significance of archival research and fostering scholarly exploration related to our digital collections.
As the WPI prepares to launch an upcoming edition of Paul Gauguin's catalogue raisonné, it hosts the webinar series, "Engaging with Gauguin." The series explores the ways in which diverse perspectives and critical discussions surrounding this significant artist can be accommodated. This international initiative convenes curators and scholars hailing from institutions in New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, and Denmark.
Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 3:00 pm ET: Laura Cosendey and Fernando Oliva — Museu de Arte de São Paulo
Thursday, November 2, 2023, at 4:00 pm ET: Dr. Caroline Vercoe — The University of Auckland
Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 3:00 pm ET: Anna Kærsgaard Gregersen, Angela Tiatia, and Patricia O’Brien — The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, Australian National University College of Asia & the Pacific
“On Paper”: ICRA Annual Conference 2023
The International Catalogue Raisonné Association (ICRA) will host its Annual Conference, "On Paper," at The Royal Academy in London on December 5, 2023. This event will feature leading professionals discussing various aspects of paper, including cataloging, curating, conservation, materials, techniques, and artists' innovative use of paper from the Old Masters to the present day. The conference aims to provide profound insights into the challenges and questions associated with paper as both a support and medium in the art world. The event promises to be a fascinating learning opportunity for those interested in paper within the catalogue raisonné community and beyond.
Keynote speaker Claudette Johnson, an artist known for her work primarily on paper, will be joined by other experts, including Susan Catcher, Senior Paper Conservator at the Victoria & Albert Museum; Rhea Blok, Curator at the Fondation Custodia in Paris; Adam Greenhalgh, Lead Author of the catalogue raisonné "Mark Rothko: The Works on Paper"; and Fabienne Ruppen, Assistant Curator at the Department of Prints & Drawings, Kunstmuseum Basel, among others.
Catalogue Raisonné Scholars Association (CRSA) program archive
The Catalogue Raisonné Scholars Association (CRSA), established in 1993 as a College Art Association affiliate, caters to scholars and individuals involved in the catalogue raisonné process. Typically, members research a single artist's body of work to create a reliable list of genuine works, including their chronology, history (provenance, bibliography, exhibitions), and more. CRSA is a platform for information and support that connects those interested in this work. It does not vet members or endorse projects, institutions, or products and cannot assist with specific artwork or artist queries.
Although the CRSA doesn’t yet have live events planned for the Autumn, it does offer an extensive archive of its past programs. The following two conversations are of particular interest.
“Artist-made objects of indeterminate status and the catalogue raisonné” (2020)
This discussion explores the complexities of determining whether every object created by an artist qualifies as art and if provisional, unfinished, or utilitarian pieces should be included in catalogues raisonnés. It questions how evolving media impact these distinctions and whether such discussions are relevant to catalog compilation. Panelists are encouraged to examine these issues from practical and philosophical perspectives, considering works in various media and time periods.
“Maybes — is there room for doubt in a catalogue raisonné?” (2018)
This panel addressed the common assumption that attributing authorship or distinguishing forgeries from legitimate artworks is always straightforward. It highlights challenges faced by catalogue raisonné compilers, where attribution certainty can be elusive due to limitations in connoisseurship, provenance research, archives, and technical analysis. The goal is to initiate a dialogue on best practices for authors in handling such situations and effectively communicating uncertainty to readers and owners. Expert panelists, including Stephanie D'Alessandro, Vivian Barnett, Jim Coddington, and David Nash, shared insights and guidelines, offering a well-rounded discussion.
