DEFINITION
A
description of a work of art that associates it with a defined style, historical
period, group, school, or movement whose characteristics are represented
in the work.
SUBCATEGORIES
GENERAL
DISCUSSION
This
category deals with any named, defined style, historical or artistic period,
movement, group, or school whose characteristics are represented in the
work being cataloged. Designations of style, period, group, or movement
are derived from scholarly tradition within given fields of expertise.
Stylistic terminology epitomizes many of a work's salient characteristics,
placing it in the context of other works created in the same or similar
style.
Related to technique
Often styles or periods take their names from a technique used in a particular
place at a certain time. Terms such as Red-figure, Black-figure,
and Neo-Impressionist are examples of styles based on technique.
Some terms, such as Surrealist, may refer to a style or artistic
movement not necessarily tied to a particular period or a single technique.
Stylistic similarities may be the basis for the concept of "school,"
which may refer to movements such as the American Ashcan School or
to artistic families or groups such as the Japanese Kano School.
Related to chronological periods
Although
style and period terms should not be used to sort or order works chronologically,
terms referring to style or period may be based on historical eras
and thus have a chronological reference; for example, periods may be delimited
by dates associated with certain rulers or governments. The names of dynasties,
such as Ming, are used for artistic periods in China, Japan, and
Egypt. Ruling families provide names for periods and styles such as Tudor
or Stuart. A style term may refer to the reign of a specific
monarch, such as Louis XIV, Napoleonic, Victorian, or Ptolemaic.
Some
terms, such as Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and Surrealist,
refer only to a style or artistic movement, not to the period. Often,
in the twentieth century, these designations overlap chronologically,
and therefore cannot be said to define periods.
Certain broad terms, such as Ancient Greek, Medieval, or Renaissance,
have generally accepted chronological boundaries; they may be subdivided
into well-known secondary eras, such as Archaic, Classical, or
Hellenistic. The
same can be said of certain broad stylistic designations, such as Byzantine
or Baroque, which encompass styles such as Theodosian, Comnenian,
and Paleologan. While not strictly defined by specific dates, the
order and structure offered by such designations makes them useful pedagogical
and communication tools.Some
expressions for temporal periods, such as Napoleon III, also have
a stylistic designation attached to them, in this case Second Empire,
but these terms are rarely synonymous. The time spans referred to by different
styles and periods often overlap, for example, Neoclassical and
Georgian.
While
tempting, it is not possible to attach a strictly chronological definition
to a stylistic or period term. This is best illustrated by works that
fall on the cusp of such definitions or are stylistically retardatory.
These historically complex examples include the furniture made for Mme
DuBarry's house at Louveciennes, which dates to the Louis XVI period
but is Louis XV style, or the Georgian silver made early
in Victoria's reign (i.e., Victorian period). In Chinese art, archaism,
that is, the choice of a style from an earlier period, can be an aesthetic
statement. Works outside the "mainstream" of Western culture, such as
provincial work, or works from geographic areas that are more distant
from the historic centers of artistic production, such as Magna Graecia
or Colonial America, will show stylistic characteristics that may be associated
with an earlier time.
Uncertainty
The terminology for styles, periods, groups, and movements
as used in the field of art history is sometimes vague and
is often the subject of much debate. Even when the terminology
is accepted, definitions may not be shared. For example, Pre-Raphaelite
can be used to refer to a broad range of work, from that created
by the original seven members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
between 1848 and about 1853, through all those who were influenced
by them, or adopted their characteristic style. Futurism
as a movement differs from Futurist as a general style.
Some terms such as Nazca are also used broadly to define
stylistic periods, i.e., the time during which a certain
style was in broad use or favor. The meaning of a specific
term may also vary over time, making it important to record
the source of the concepts represented by each term, and the
source for the vocabulary itself. [1]
The
definition and parameters of certain terms, such as Mannerist, Rococo,
Neoclassical, and Romantic, and their applicability to a particular
period or style, have been debated. The meaning of these terms is nebulous,
as are their dates and parameters. These ambiguities open their meaning
to a variety of interpretations. Nevertheless, such terms are commonly
used, as they often provide a useful way to link otherwise diverse or
disparate material.
Cataloging
rules
For the subcategories in this section, basic recommendations
and discussion are provided below. For a fuller, more prescriptive
set of cataloging rules regarding style, see Chapter 4:
Stylistic and Chronological Information in
Cataloging Cultural Objects (CCO), which deals with a
critical subset of the CDWA.
RELATED
CATEGORIES and ACCESS
The
STYLE/PERIOD/GROUP/MOVEMENT subcategories should be accessible in combination
with other subcategories, to allow researchers to locate, for example,
all drawings where the style is Mannerist
and the subject portrays Rome.
5.1. Styles/Periods Description
DEFINITION
A prose description of the salient characteristics of a work in relation
to a particular style, historical period, group, school, or movement.
EXAMPLES
"Vases in the Kerch style take their name from an area
on the Black Sea where numerous examples have been found.
The style is characterized by an elaborate and often flamboyant
use of polychromy, gilding, and relief work to augment the
simple red-on-black scheme of earlier Attic vases..." [2]
[Figure
9]
This eclectic style is purely Roman, with references to works by
4th-century BC Greek sculptors such as Skopas and Lysippos [Figure
5].
The erotic theme with half-length figures and rich coloring
is typical of David's history paintings done in Brussels
following his exile from France in 1816. The vivid colors
and realistic flesh tones that were inspired by the art
of Rubens combined with Greek-inspired forms are characteristic
of late Neoclassicism [Figure
6].
"The evolution of Duccio's style from the Crevole Madonna
to the Madonna of the Franciscans is most apparent in the
heightened realism of the figures. The strongly geometricized
face and the pattern-like arrangement of hands and striations
of the Crevole Madonna are indebted to Guido da Siena and,
perhaps, other artists of his generation. The Madonna of
the Franciscans seems somewhat more mature. In it one sees
for the first time the graceful, refined Duccio who endows
his figures with vibrant personalities..." [3]
DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES
Optional: Record a description of the work of art or architecture
in terms of the style, period, group, or movement whose aesthetic it reflects.
Most institutions will discuss style in the DESCRIPTIVE NOTE and do not
need to repeat it here.
Form and syntax
Use sentence case. You may use complete sentences and/or phrases. Begin
the first word of the note with an uppercase letter, and end the note
with a period. Follow rules for standard English grammar (if the record
is in another language, use grammar rules appropriate to that language).
Note
that associating a specific work with a stylistic term will continue to
be a matter of judgment and open to debate. If you rely upon information
from a published source, cite the source in STYLES/PERIODS/GROUPS/MOVEMENTS
- CITATIONS.
TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT
Free-text: This is not a controlled field. Important information
in the description should be indexed in STYLES/PERIOS/GROUPS/MOVEMENTS
- INDEXING TERMS.
5.2. Styles/Periods Indexing
Terms
DEFINITION
The term or terms identifying a style, historical period, school, or art
movement whose characteristics are represented by the work.
EXAMPLES
Ancient
Op-art
Fauve
Medieval
Neo-Romanticist
Pre-Raphaelite
Hellenistic
Feminist
Classicist
Old Kingdom
Ming
Renaissance
Surrealist
Louis XVI
Mannerist
Ch'ien-lung
Postmodern
Nayarit
Huari
DISCUSSION
and GUIDELINES
Optional:
Record a style, historical period, group, movement, or school
whose characteristics are represented in the work being cataloged. Derive
this information from scholarly or other authoritative sources. There
may be multiple styles, periods, groups, or movements represented in a
single art work.
For the purposes of cataloging, note that a century is not considered
a period; do not record centuries in this subcategory. Use the
CREATION DATE subcategory for recording centuries, if appropriate (e.g.,
14th century).
Specificity
Use the most specific term applicable; the link to the authority should
provide access to the record via broader terms. For
example, use the specific terms Comnenian
or Palaeologan rather than Byzantine, if appropriate
and if known. When in doubt regarding the specific style, period, group,
or movement to which a work belongs, choose a broader term about which
you are certain (e.g., use the broader term Roman if it is uncertain
whether the period is Monarchic or Early Imperial).
For a group of items, include all the styles represented in the group.
If there are too many to list them all, include the most important within
the context of the group or the most typical styles evident in the group.
Note that terms referred to as styles or periods that are
used to separate the work of a particular artist into distinct groups, such
as Picasso's Rose Period or Blue Period, are outside
the scope of discussion in this category. Such terms so specific that they
have little relevance beyond the study of one artist's oeuvre; therefore,
it is not recommended to record such terms in this category.
Form and syntax
Generally use the adjectival form (e.g., Byzantine, Constantinopolitan,
Medieval, Impressionist), but nouns or gerunds that are used as adjectives
may be recorded, if appropriate (e.g., Early Bronze Age, Orientalizing).
Alternatively, the noun form (e.g., Impressionism rather than Impressionist)
may be used to accommodate local practice, provided it is done consistently.
Capitalize terms for styles and periods, except in rare cases referring
to very broad designations (e.g., protohistoric); use capitalization
as indicated in your source (e.g., the AAT). Avoid abbreviations.
Use terminology in the language of the catalog record (English
in the United States), except in cases where no exact English-language
equivalent exists (e.g., Ch'ien-lung). Use diacritics
as required.
TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT
Authority: Control this subcategory with the
GENERIC CONCEPT AUTHORITY, which can be populated with terminology
from the controlled vocabularies named below. An authority
with hierarchical structure, cross referencing, and synonymous
terms is recommended.
Sources of controlled terminology include the following:
AAT (especially Styles and Periods hierarchy), the Index of
Jewish Art, or Villard's Système déscriptif
des antiquités classiques.
RELATED
CATEGORIES and ACCESS
If the style term refers to a culture, repeat the information in CREATION-CULTURE,
if appropriate (e.g., Pre-Columbian). If the style
is defined by a medium or technique, repeat the information
in MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES (e.g., Black-figure). When
the style term refers directly or indirectly to a technique
(e.g., Neo-Impressionist), include the techniquein
MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES(e.g., pointillism). If the
style term refers explicitly or implicitly to the subject
or other thematic or visual content of the work, repeat the
information in SUBJECT MATTER (e.g., Animal Style).
If the style term refers to a geographic or geopolitical entity,
repeat the information in the CREATION-PLACE/ORIGINAL LOCATION
or other appropriate location subcategory (e.g., French
Provincial). If the style or period term refers to the
reign of a ruler or to a dynasty, repeat the information in
CREATION - COMMISSIONER, as appropriate (e.g., Hadrianic).
5.2.1. Style/Period Indexing
Type
DEFINITION
A
term identifying the type represented in the indexing terms.
EXAMPLES
style
period
group
movement
dynasty
DISCUSSION
and GUIDELINES
Optional: Record a term that characterizes
the type of INDEXING TERM recorded. Use lower case.
Terms
such as Baroque or Renaissance, can refer to both a style
and a period. Given that distinguishing between terms for styles, periods,
groups, and movements may be problematic and is generally unnecessary
for retrieval, most institutions will avoid using INDEXING TERM - QUALIFIER.
TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT
Controlled list: Control this subcategory with a controlled
list: style, period, group, movement, dynasty, and others, as necessary.
5.3. Remarks
DEFINITION
Additional notes or comments pertinent to information in this category.
DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES
Optional: Record a note containing additional
information or comments on this category. Use consistent syntax
and format. For rules regarding writing notes, see DESCRIPTIVE
NOTE.
FORMAT/TERMINOLOGY
Free-text: This is not a controlled field.
Use consistent syntax and format.
5.4. Citations
DEFINITION
A reference to a bibliographic source, unpublished document, or individual
opinion that provides the basis for the information recorded
in this category.
DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES
Optional: Record the source used for information
in this category. For a full set of rules for CITATIONS, see
RELATED TEXTUAL REFERENCES - CITATIONS.
TERMINOLOGY/FORMAT
Authority: Ideally, this information is controlled
by citations in the citations authority; see RELATED TEXTUAL
REFERENCES.
5.4.1. Page
DEFINITION
Page number, volume, date accessed for Web sites, and any
other information indicating where in the source the information
was found.
DISCUSSION and GUIDELINES
Optional: For a full set of rules for PAGE,
see RELATED TEXTUAL REFERENCES - CITATIONS - PAGE.
FORMAT/TERMINOLOGY
Free-text: This is not a controlled field.
Use consistent syntax and format.
EXAMPLES
[for a drawing by Parmigianino, style term refers to visual appearance]
Style/Period/Group/Movement: Mannerist
[for a 19th-century house, style term refers to visual appearance]
Style/Period/Group/Movement: Gothic Revival
[for a Panathenaic amphora, two style terms are applicable to the
same work, "Black-figure" refers to technique]
Style/Period/Group/Movement: Black-figure
Style/Period/Group/Movement: Attic
[for an ancient Roman building, style term refers to the reign of
an emperor]
Style/Period/Group/Movement: Hadrianic
[for an African mask from the Congo, style term refers to culture]
Style/Period/Group/Movement: Chokwe
[for a 12th-century tomb, style refers to a place]
Style/Period/Group/Movement: Catalan
[for a Scythian ornament, style is partially defined by the subject]
Style/Period/Group/Movement: Animal Style
[for an ancient Egyptian crown, style refers to a period; repeat
this information in CREATION DATE, as necessary]
Style/Period/Group/Movement: Middle Kingdom (Egyptian)
[for a group of pastel drawings representing two styles]
Style/Period/Group/Movement: Impressionist
Style/Period/Group/Movement: Post-Impressionist
[for a chair, the QUALIFIER is included]
Style/Period/Group/Movement: Arts and Crafts
Type: movement
NOTE: The outline numbers are subject to change; they are
intended only to organize this document.
Revised 8 September 2008
|
|
|
