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The following Frequently Asked Questions have been compiled by the Museum Library. Questions about art research that are not included here can be directed to library@moma.org. See also MoMA Research FAQ, Library FAQ and DADABASE FAQ.
- How can I learn about an artist?
- How can I learn about a work of art?
- How can I learn about a work in the Museum's collection?
- How can I get an artwork evaluated, authenticated, or appraised?
- How can I find periodical articles about art?
- How can I conserve a work of art?
- I want to contact an expert on an artist (or a work of art, an art movement, a theory about art). What should I do?
- What does "fair use" mean?
Q. How can I find out about an artist?
A. A good approach to learning about art is to work from general to specific sources.
Start with a general source such as an encyclopedia or biographical dictionary. An excellent source is the Dictionary of Art (New York: Grove Press, 1996). Most large public libraries and some school libraries will have this in their reference section in print or online.
Use the index, looking for words that describe your interest: names (such as Marcel Duchamp), mediums (painting, photography), places (Ghana, Beijing), art movements (Impressionism, avant-garde) or works ("Bird in Flight"). Let the entries guide you to articles.
Also, look for specific sources in the bibliography at the end of each article. Most useful are artist monographs (a book all about one artist, such as the catalogue from a major retrospective exhibition), biographies, and periodical articles. Search for the books and periodicals in your local library catalogue. These too usually have bibliographies, pointing you to still more sources.
Some general sources about artists are:
- Who's Who in American Art (New Providence, NJ: Marquis Who's Who, yearly).
- Havilice, Patricia Pate. Index to Artistic Biography and Supplement (Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1973, 1981).
- Falk, Peter H. and Lewis, Audrey M. Who Was Who in American Art, 1564-1975 (Madison, CT: Sound View Press, 1999).
- International Dictionary of Art and Artists (Chicago: St. James Press, 1990).
- Contemporary Artists, Fourth Edition (Detroit: St. James Press, 1996).
- Contemporary Architects, Third Edition (Detroit: St. James Press, 1994).
- Contemporary Designers, Third Edition (Detroit: St. James Press, 1997).
- Contemporary Photographers, Third Edition (Detroit: St. James Press, 1995).
You may also find useful information in periodical articles. Most large public libraries will have print or online periodical indexes in their reference section. In particular, see:
- Art Index (New York: H.W. Wilson, 1929-).
- ArtBibliographies Modern (Santa Barbara, CA: G.K. Hall, 1973-).
- Bibliography of the History of Art (Santa Monica, CA: J. Paul Getty Trust/Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1973-).
Also consult major publications about the artist. Check your local library catalogue by subject for the artist's name.
If you don't find what you are looking for, ask your local librarian for assistance.
Q. How can I learn about a work of art?
A. A good first step is to seek a catalogue raisonné of the artist. A catalogue raisonné is a publication (usually a book) that attempts to list all works by one artist. The entry for each work sometimes includes a list of scholarly sources where the work has been discussed.
For a less well known artwork, search for the title or artist in an index of art periodicals such as the Art Index (New York: H.W. Wilson, 1929-). Check your local library for holdings.
Also consult major publications about the artist. Check your local library catalogue by subject for the artist's name.
If you don't find what you are looking for, ask your local librarian for assistance.
See also information about appraisal in How can I learn the monetary value of an artwork?.
Q. How can I get an artwork evaluated, authenticated, or appraised?
A. As a matter of policy, the Library doesn't offer evaluations, authentications, or appraisals of artworks.
To learn about an artwork on your own, please see How can I learn about a work of art?
A helpful means to identify, authenticate or appraise an artwork is to contact an auction house, art dealer or appraiser. To find an appraiser, contact the Appraisers Association of America 386 Park Av South, Suite 2000, New York, NY, 10016, (212) 889-5404. Some auction houses provide free appraisals, such as the William Doyle Galleries. See also eppraisals.com.
Another way to get an idea of the monetary value of a work is to find auction results for other works by that artist. For an excellent introduction to auction research, see the New York Public Library's Auction Sales Index research guide.
For an introduction to valuation see: Soucy, Patricia C. and Smyth, Janella N. The Appraisal of Personal Property: Principles, Theories and Practice Methods for the Professional Appraiser (Washington, DC: American Society of Appraisers, 1994).
Q. How can I conserve of a work of art?
A. See the Conservation FAQ compiled by the Museum's Department of Conservation.
Q. I want to contact an expert on an artist (or a work of art, an art movement, a theory about art). What should I do?
A. As a matter of policy, the Library doesn't suggest the names of specific experts or scholars. You may be able to discover names of scholars and commentators on your own by consulting recent publications on your topic. For guidance see How can I find out about an artist?
Q. What does "fair use" mean?
A. US copyright law governs photocopies and other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law as "fair use," libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement.
For detailed information on "fair use" see Section 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: fair use (From Copyright Law of the United States of America. Washington, DC: US Copyright Office, 1998).