Uncover The Painting In Your Mind

Finding out the name of a painting you're thinking of can be a challenging task, especially if you don't have much information to go on. However, with the plethora of online tools and communities available today, it's easier than ever to identify paintings. From using image recognition apps and reverse image search engines to scouring art catalogues and analysing artistic movements, there are numerous strategies you can employ to uncover the painting's identity. So, whether you're curious about a family heirloom, a yard sale find, or a painting you simply admired in a book, there are effective ways to satisfy your curiosity and find the answers you seek.

Use Google search with a description of the painting

If you are trying to identify a painting based on a description, there are several steps you can take to find it. Firstly, you can use Google's image search engine to search for the painting using a description. Here are the steps:

• Take a photo of the painting and edit the photo so that only the frame is visible, with no flashlights or other distractions in the image.
• Save the photo as a standard image file, such as a JPG.
• Go to www.google.com and click on the "Images" link to access the photo search section.
• Drag and drop your photo into the search box, and Google will search for similar images and provide information about the author and the painting.

Additionally, you can use image recognition apps and reverse image search tools to identify the painting. These tools use machine learning algorithms to identify paintings based on their visual characteristics. You can also try to identify the artistic movement and style of the painting, as this can help narrow down your search. Look for clues such as the use of light, the subject matter, the brushstrokes, and the colours used. Determine the materials and techniques used, such as oil paint or acrylic paint, as this can help you identify the time period of the painting.

If you have any information about the artist, you can also research them and compare your painting to their other works. Look for similarities in style, subject matter, materials, and dates. You can also try to decipher any signatures or monograms on the painting, as these can provide valuable information about the artist. Keep in mind that not all paintings are created by established artists, so you may need to do some additional detective work to find the information you're looking for.

Look for a signature, monogram, or mark

If you are trying to identify a painting, one of the first things you can do is look for a signature, monogram, or mark. Signatures and monograms are usually found in the corners of the painting. If the name is legible, you can simply search for the artist's name online to find the painting. If the signature is harder to read, try to decipher the letters and use this information to narrow down your search.

It is important to note that not all names found on an artwork belong to the artist. For example, the name could be that of a previous owner, a foundry or fabricator, or a material supplier. To help you identify these marks and establish where your artist was active, you can consult foundry and material supplier dictionaries.

If you are having trouble identifying a signature or monogram, there are several resources you can use. You can consult artist signature dictionaries, either online or in print, such as the following:

• European Artists: Signatures and Monograms, 1800-1990
• Dictionary of Signatures and Monograms of American Artists
• The Visual Index of Artists’ Signatures and Monograms
• ArtistsSignatures.com: a website that allows you to enter vague details such as one or two letters in the artist's signature or monogram and returns all possible matches
• Artist's Signatures: a website that allows you to browse or search artist names, monograms, and signature examples to verify, authenticate, and discover how the artist signs their work

Identify the artistic movement

Identifying the artistic movement of a painting is a great way to narrow down your search when trying to find a particular painting. There are hundreds of artistic movements throughout history, each with its own distinct qualities. Here are some tips to help you identify the artistic movement of a painting:

Start by assessing the composition, subject matter, and style of the painting. Different artistic movements have distinct characteristics that set them apart. For example, the Neoclassical movement often features artificial lighting and scenes of aristocrats, generals, battles, or dramatic religious events. As another example, Symbolism, which emerged in the second half of the 19th century, reflects emotions and ideas rather than representing the natural world.

Examine the canvas or paper quality. The way a canvas is attached to its frame can provide clues about the time period of the painting. If the canvas is stapled into the frame, it is likely from 1900 onwards, as that is when canvases were first mass-produced. If the canvas is hanging loosely on the frame, it may be from before 1600, as artists during that time were not as skilled at stretching the fabric tightly.

Look for a signature or monogram. Signatures were rarely used before the Renaissance (around 1300), and monograms became more popular after the 1800s. If you can identify a signature or monogram, you can search for the artist's name to find the painting. Websites like artistssignatures.com can help you identify the artist based on their signature.

Use image recognition apps and reverse image search tools. These technologies can help you identify paintings by comparing your image against databases of artworks that museums and art historians are continually uploading and cataloguing.

By following these steps and combining multiple methods, you can effectively identify the artistic movement of a painting and increase your chances of finding the specific painting you are thinking of.

Use image recognition apps

There are several image recognition apps available for both Android and iPhone that can help identify paintings and provide additional information. Here are some apps you can use:

Smartify

Smartify is an image recognition app that identifies scanned artworks and provides additional information about them. The app was launched in selected museums, including the Louvre in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and the Wallace Collection in London. It works across institutions, allowing users to scan paintings, sculptures, and objects to identify what they are looking at. It also offers audio tours, guides, and videos, as well as the ability to book tickets and access maps. Smartify also has a feature to build a personal collection of favourite artworks and connect with other art lovers.

Magnus

Magnus is another popular app for recognising artwork. It has a database of over 10 million images of art, mostly crowdsourced, and can be used to identify paintings, learn about the artist, and access background information about the composition.

Google Lens

Google Lens is Google's advanced image recognition technology, which has been used to identify artworks in collaboration with museums and platforms like Wescover, which focuses on design objects, public and local art, furniture, and craft.

These apps provide an easy way to identify paintings and access information about art, making them useful tools for art enthusiasts, students, and anyone curious about a particular artwork they come across.

Research the painting's provenance (location prior to current ownership)

The provenance of a painting refers to the chronology of its ownership, custody, or location. The primary purpose of researching a painting's provenance is to gain a more comprehensive understanding of its history and provide contextual and circumstantial evidence for its original production or discovery. This involves establishing the sequence of its formal ownership, custody, and places of storage.

When researching the provenance of a painting, it is important to record its physical details, such as style, subject, signature, materials, dimensions, and frame. The back of a painting can contain significant provenance information, including exhibition marks, dealer stamps, gallery labels, and other indications of previous ownership. Additionally, it is essential to review relevant publications, such as auction catalogs, online databases, and scholarly literature. Auction records, for example, can provide valuable information about the occasions a painting has been sold.

There are several resources available for researching the provenance of a painting. WorldCat, a library catalog connecting over 10,000 libraries worldwide, offers access to catalogue raisonnés and exhibition catalogs. Catalogue raisonnés are often written by experts on a specific artist and outline their entire body of work, including basic facts about each piece, such as provenance. The International Foundation for Art Research (IFAR) also provides a database of artist catalogue raisonnés and a Provenance Guide for research.

It is important to note that gaps in provenance information are common, especially for older objects or those with a history in Europe during World War II. In such cases, consulting specialized scholars and seeking additional resources, such as archives and art loss databases, may be necessary. Furthermore, galleries and museums often conduct in-depth research into the provenance of their collections, and their websites may provide valuable information.

Frequently asked questions