One platform to create and publish digital catalogues raisonnés and archives

Connect archive and catalogue data to enable readers to explore with depth.

  • Archive

    Structure, organize, and preserve millions of digital archival materials connected to one another and artwork entries.

  • Catalogue

    Use the structured interface to document research on artwork and establish connections between artwork, archival materials, and publications.

  • Publish

    Publish your archive and catalogue through the platform to reach readers across the globe. Use the included template or develop your own website design with the API.

  • Structured data and multilanguage search help readers and researchers quickly find what they need. Locate the most appropriate resource with precision.

    The integration of comprehensive metadata and cross-referenced cataloging systems ensures scholars can trace connections between related artwork, archives, and publications throughout their research journey.

  • Store and publish digitized versions of your archive and catalogue within one platform to ensure information reaches readers seamlessly. Our secure database architecture maintains the integrity of your research while our publication tools present your work with scholarly precision. The platform preserves complex relationships between artwork, documentation, and historical context that traditional print publications cannot accommodate.

  • The Navigating.art platform enables broader access to an artist's oeuvre through straightforward publication options. Researchers, curators, and art historians can view complete artwork collections with associated documentation and provenance records in a unified digital environment. The platform supports both public and restricted access models to accommodate scholarly needs while respecting copyright considerations and institutional policies.

  • Digital catalogues raisonnés allow teams to maintain accurate publications and incorporate new discoveries. The flexible database structure accommodates revisions without disrupting the scholarly apparatus. These comprehensive digital resources preserve traditional art historical methodologies while extending research capabilities through advanced search functions and interconnected reference systems.

"The platform has an enormous advantage because it creates a living document; you can grow and change your completed catalogue raisonné as needed. […] We feel that Navigating.art’s background, support, and team ensure the longevity of our project as it grows and changes."

Robert Mattison, Director and Author, Franz Kline Paintings 1950 – 1962

Explore a digital catalogue raisonné: Gauguin Catalogue Raisonné of the Paintings (1891-1903)

Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) painted from Pont-Aven to Tahiti to Arles. This exhaustive catalogue raisonné is carefully designed so that each entry can be read in isolation. However, a system of cross-references guarantees an interrelated study and restores the overall trajectory of Gauguin’s life and work.

Together, we honor artistic legacies through digital stewardship.

Contact us to explore options for working together on archival and catalogue raisonné projects. 

Frequently asked questions

  • We at Navigating.art will provide you with a template before you publish your digital publication. This template allows you to select content groups, add text pages, and define search functions.

    For additional customization beyond these options, we can introduce you to an agency that can construct a custom site that connects with the platform through its API. The agency will collaborate with you to establish a budget for the project.

  • Yes. Researchers have two options for data migration into the Navigating.art platform. We can provide a template for you and your team to fill out, and our team of experts will review the template and import it once finalized. Alternatively, the Navigating.art team can conduct the full migration process, including the preparation and organization of pre-existing data. Both services are priced hourly based on actual work performed.

  • We designed the Navigating.art platform to help all our clients develop rigorous digital catalogue raisonné and archive projects with precision. You may suggest changes and new features, but we will consider those suggestions as we continue to improve the platform for all clients rather than create custom solutions for individual projects.

  • Yes, although you may need to engage additional assistance. You can export your data from the Navigating.art platform and share that file with a team that can design the layout and coordinate with a printer.

  • The client retains ownership of all data stored on the platform. Navigating.art has no ownership or other claim with respect to the data on the platform and is only responsible for running and maintaining the platform.

  • Our tutorials remain available in the Help Center. These tutorials address general process questions and demonstrate how to use more complex functions. For example, you can find tips for documentation and how to set image previews. We have more than one hundred articles and add new content each week.

Keep learning

From database to a global readership: developing the Akseli Gallen-Kallela catalogue raisonné project

Technology in support of scholarship: the revised catalogue raisonné of Claude Monet

Full artwork attributions and copyright information are available in the imprint.