Abstract
Because the arts have been one of the last fields to make use of computers in scholarly research, this paper begins by discussing the traditional relationship of art scholars to technology, some of the reasons for resistance to technology, and changes that are occurring in the field. The remainder of the paper is a discussion of computerization in art research. Outlines of bibliographic databases that are now available are provided and their scope is described in terms of subject, geographical area, time period, cost, vendor, and retrospective conversion of records. Special needs and activities of user groups such as museum curators, art librarians, professors, art dealers and art collectors are investigated.
Recording information about art objects in an online catalog presents unique problems. These include such issues as discrepancies in titles, attributions, dates and the need for flexible information records. The specific types of databases and automated research tools that would be most useful to art researchers would enable them to do such things as search for records by patrons, collectors, artists, geographic areas, style, subject matter, iconography, exhibition, etc. Computerized projects that meet these needs and are currently being planned or implemented under the sponsorship of the Getty Trust include: the combining of RILA and the Repertoire d'Art et d'Archeology; the Avery Index; the Provenance Index; the Witt Library; The Art and Architecture Thesaurus and many others. The paper concludes by providing some examples of worldwide projects to computerize research in the visual arts and meet specific user needs.
from the article on the Gerd Muehsam Award 1989, in Art Documentation, vol. 8, no. 3 (Fall 1989), p. 119.
