Leo Martínez
The back of a painting, also known as the 'verso', often contains labels, markings, and other notations that can provide valuable insights into the artwork's history, ownership, and provenance. These labels are like a passport for the painting, recording its journey and accumulation of stories as it changes hands over time. They can include stamps from customs, border controls, conservators, or bureaucratic entities, as well as inscriptions, signatures, dates, and even hidden artwork. Artists may also include titles, addresses, or other personal information. These details enhance the painting's value and help specialists build the story behind each piece, uncovering hidden connections and providing a fascinating glimpse into the past.
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What You'll Learn
The history of a painting can be traced through labels
The back of a painting, also known as the 'verso', often contains a wealth of information that can reveal its history. Labels, markings, stamps, and inscriptions can provide valuable insights into the journey of a painting, the artists who created it, and the owners who possessed it.
One of the essential aspects of a painting's history is its provenance, which refers to the ownership and custody of the artwork over time. Labels on the reverse of a painting can include auction and gallery labels, indicating when and where the painting was exhibited or sold. These labels often bear numbers or codes that can be traced back to specific auctions or collections, helping specialists track the painting's movement between different owners and locations.
In addition to gallery and auction labels, paintings may also bear stamps from customs and border controls, especially when they have crossed international borders. These stamps can provide crucial geographical information, indicating the countries or regions where the painting has travelled. For example, a French customs office stamp was found on Paul Gauguin's "Arii Matamoe (The Royal End)", indicating that the painting had passed through French customs at some point in its history.
Private collectors and notable figures have also left their marks on the reverse of paintings. For instance, King Charles I of England (1600-1649) branded his initials "CR" topped with a crown onto the artworks in his royal collection. Similarly, the stamp of the artist Ivon Hitchens' wife, Mollie, was found on one of his landscapes, along with a handwritten note indicating its subsequent ownership by Allen and Beryl Freer.
Artists themselves also play a role in documenting the history of their paintings. Some artists sign, name, and date their works on the reverse, and may even include their addresses. This information is invaluable in authenticating the artwork and establishing the context in which it was created. Additionally, artists may use labels or stickers to provide information about the medium, size, and other relevant details of the painting.
By examining the labels, markings, and inscriptions on the reverse of paintings, specialists can piece together the stories behind these artworks. Each clue, no matter how small or faded, contributes to our understanding of a painting's journey through time, the people associated with it, and its significance in the art world.
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Labels can indicate ownership
Labels on the reverse of paintings, also called the 'verso', can indicate ownership and provide valuable insights into the journey of the artwork. These labels are akin to a "passport" for the painting, documenting its movement across different locations and owners.
One example of how labels indicate ownership is through the practice of private collectors adding their names or initials to the back of the artworks they own. For instance, King Charles I of England (1600-1649) branded his initials 'CR', topped with a crown, on the reverse of the paintings in his royal collection. This not only signifies ownership but also enhances the prestige and value of the artwork due to its association with royalty.
Auction houses, galleries, and museums also systematically label artworks to ensure proper tracking and inventory management. These labels can include auction or exhibition details, such as dates and locations, which help establish the provenance and credibility of the painting. For instance, a Christie's stencil on the back of a painting can indicate that it was part of a specific auction or collection.
Additionally, labels from canvas suppliers, such as stamps or stickers, can provide geographical clues about where the artist sourced their materials and, by extension, where they were working. Artists may also include their names, addresses, or other contact information on the labels, further personalizing the artwork and providing insights into their lives.
Furthermore, labels can be added by conservators or bureaucratic institutions, such as customs and border controls, leaving their marks as the painting crosses borders. These labels may include customs stamps, wax seals, or handwritten inscriptions, all of which contribute to the rich history and ownership narrative of the artwork.
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Labels can be used to authenticate a painting
Labels on the reverse of paintings, also called the 'verso', can be used to authenticate a painting. They can reveal a painting's journey, showing where it has been and who owned it. Labels can take the form of stamps, wax seals, or handwritten inscriptions. For example, paintings may bear the stamps of customs and border controls, such as a French customs office stamp on Paul Gauguin's Arii Matamoe (The Royal End). Labels from bureaucratic mechanisms, such as Germany's Reich Chamber of Culture (1933-1945), can also be found on the verso of paintings.
Private collectors have also added their names to the reverse of paintings they owned. For instance, King Charles I of England (1600-1649) branded his initials 'CR' topped with a crown onto the reverse of works in his royal collection. Labels from auction houses, such as Christie's, can also be found on the verso of paintings, indicating the painting's auction history. Labels from dealers can also be found, such as those from Ernest Brown & Phillips Ltd., a London dealer, which revealed the sales history of three paintings.
Labels can also provide clues about the materials used in the painting and where it was created. Canvas-maker stamps, for instance, can be useful geographical touchpoints. If we know the canvas-maker, we can determine the narrow geographic area where the artist was working. Labels from suppliers can contain the names and addresses of their businesses, which can help establish when and where a work was made. Reference lists, such as Alexander Katlan's American Artists' Materials Suppliers Directory, can be used to track down suppliers and help establish the provenance of a work.
Labels can also include information such as the title, medium, size, and artist's name. Artists may also include their address, helping specialists build the story behind the artwork. Labels can also take the form of stickers or business cards with the artist's information or an authenticity sticker. Labels, therefore, play an important role in authenticating a painting, providing valuable information about its provenance, ownership history, and the materials used.
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Labels can be used to indicate the materials used
Labels on the reverse of paintings can be used to indicate the materials used. For instance, stamps and labels from suppliers may contain the names and addresses of their businesses. Reference lists, such as Alexander Katlan's American Artists' Materials Suppliers Directory, can be used to track down suppliers and help establish when and where a work was made. This is particularly useful for 19th-century American paintings, as Katlan's directory provides dates for almost every stamp used in the country from around 1820 to 1900.
The type of canvas or panel used can also be determined from the labels and markings on the reverse of a painting. For example, the switch from wooden panels to canvas in the 15th and 16th centuries allowed artists to create larger paintings. Similarly, the use of copper sheets for painting became fashionable in the 17th century. Specialists can also determine the origin of materials by examining the differences between American and European stretchers.
In addition to the materials used, labels can also indicate the techniques employed in the creation of a painting. For instance, the use of a gesso base or a wire brush and salt to add texture to an acrylic painting may be mentioned on the label.
The labels on the reverse of a painting can also provide information about the painting's journey and ownership history. Labels from galleries, auction houses, customs, and border controls, as well as private collectors' marks, can help track the painting's provenance and enhance its value.
Overall, the labels on the reverse of paintings can provide valuable insights into the materials used, techniques employed, and the journey of the artwork, contributing to its overall value and significance.
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Artists can use labels to provide additional context
The back of a painting, also called the verso, often contains labels, inscriptions, and other markings that provide valuable insights into the artwork's history, ownership, and journey across time and geographical locations. Artists can use labels to provide additional context, enhancing the painting's value and offering a glimpse into their creative process and intentions.
Artists can include a variety of information on labels affixed to the back of their paintings. This may include the title, medium, size, and their name, as well as a signature, date, and address. Some artists choose to include a business card or artist bio with their contact details, website, and social media information. This allows buyers and appreciators to learn more about both the art and the artist, fostering a deeper connection with the work.
Labels can also be used to indicate the originality of the artwork, with some artists providing a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) that includes edition size, printmaking method, type of ink and paper, and other pertinent information. This is especially important for printmakers who want to educate buyers about the difference between original art prints and reproductions. Artists may also include notes or additional details about the creative process, influences, or specific inspiration for a particular piece.
In the case of derivative works or those influenced by other artists, labels can be used to provide credit to the original source, ensuring proper recognition and addressing potential copyright concerns. Additionally, labels from suppliers, such as canvas-makers and purveyors, can provide geographical context, helping specialists trace the origins and journey of the artwork.
Beyond the artist's own labels, the verso of a painting may accumulate labels and markings from various institutions, collectors, and exhibitions. Gallery and auction labels, for example, can provide partial provenance and lend credibility to the work. Private collectors, royalty, and nobility have historically added their names, initials or symbols to the backs of artworks they owned, enhancing their status and influencing the perception and value of the artwork over time.
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Frequently asked questions
The back of a painting is called the '
The labels on the reverse of paintings can include the artist's name, title, date, address, and medium. They can also include the painting's exhibition history, auction history, and provenance.
Institutions often add labels to works of art featured in exhibitions or when lending from their permanent collection to another museum. These labels can include the title, medium, and price of the work.
The labels on the reverse of paintings are important because they can enhance the painting's value and provide insight into its history. By examining the labels, specialists can uncover the story behind the artwork, including where it was created and who owned it.
