Signature artwork
Encyclopedia
In art, signature artwork refers to works by popular and well-established artists that are easily recognized as theirs because of unique characteristics in style, medium, or subject matter. A parallel to the recognition of a person's signature on a work is drawn indicating that the work itself may serve the same purpose to declare the creator because of unique characteristics. The existence of a body of works that demonstrate the characteristics identified as a signature artwork is necessary for the application of the term, and art critics focus upon the development of such "styles" as important for determining the significance of an artist's work. Signature artwork also refers to distinctive works that may be easily recognized without having to ascertain the school of art, the cultural identity
of a style, or the historical period during which a work was created.
Among painters the melting landscapes of Salvador Dalí
and the dripped paintings of Jackson Pollock
serve as signature artworks of those artists. Consistency is highly valued among professional painters, for example, the American Watercolor Society
will not admit a painter who has not demonstrated an established "style" that remains consistent for a period of time, but most painters follow a personal path exploring their chosen medium that has a similar result without being required for membership in a professional organization.
Among sculptors, Alexander Calder
used colors distinctively and one of his mobiles is as readily identified as his work as is a stegosaurus by Jim Gary
. These often are referred to as signature artworks for them.
Schools of art bear similar characteristics that enable easy recognition, such as the Impressionists and they may be described as signature artworks of the school.
Similar uses of signature
exist in many fields of the arts and sciences to identify distinctive characteristics as well as in retailing of merchandise.
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
of a style, or the historical period during which a work was created.
Among painters the melting landscapes of Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí
Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
and the dripped paintings of Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock
Paul Jackson Pollock , known as Jackson Pollock, was an influential American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. During his lifetime, Pollock enjoyed considerable fame and notoriety. He was regarded as a mostly reclusive artist. He had a volatile personality, and...
serve as signature artworks of those artists. Consistency is highly valued among professional painters, for example, the American Watercolor Society
American Watercolor Society
The American Watercolor Society is a nonprofit membership organization devoted to the advancement of watercolor painting in the United States. It was founded in 1866 by eleven painters and, originally, was known as the American Society of Painters in Water Colors...
will not admit a painter who has not demonstrated an established "style" that remains consistent for a period of time, but most painters follow a personal path exploring their chosen medium that has a similar result without being required for membership in a professional organization.
Among sculptors, Alexander Calder
Alexander Calder
Alexander Calder was an American sculptor and artist most famous for inventing mobile sculptures. In addition to mobile and stable sculpture, Alexander Calder also created paintings, lithographs, toys, tapestry, jewelry and household objects.-Childhood:Alexander "Sandy" Calder was born in Lawnton,...
used colors distinctively and one of his mobiles is as readily identified as his work as is a stegosaurus by Jim Gary
Jim Gary
Jim Gary was an American sculptor popularly known for his large, colorful creations of dinosaurs made from discarded automobile parts...
. These often are referred to as signature artworks for them.
Schools of art bear similar characteristics that enable easy recognition, such as the Impressionists and they may be described as signature artworks of the school.
Similar uses of signature
Signature (disambiguation)
A signature is a hand-written, possibly stylized, version of someone's name, which may be used to confirm the person's identity.Signature may also refer to:* distinctive, characteristic indicative of identityIn art:...
exist in many fields of the arts and sciences to identify distinctive characteristics as well as in retailing of merchandise.
External links
- Rhode Island College LibGuide - Art and Art History Resources
- Art History Resources on the Web in-depth directory of web links, divided by period
- Dictionary of Art Historians, a database of notable art historians maintained by Duke UniversityDuke UniversityDuke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...