Library and Information Sciences

Library and Information Sciences

Introduction to the 'Iconclass' Method in Documenting Artistic Works

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Maryam Dashtizadeh 1
Atefeh Amiri 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Museum, Shiraz University of Arts, Shiraz, Iran
2 Visiting Lecturer, Department of Museum, Shiraz University of Arts, Shiraz, Iran
10.30481/lis.2024.451931.2156
Abstract
Objective: This research aims to understand the 'Iconclass' method and highlight how to utilize it for classifying artistic works.
Methodology: The research method employed in this study is a bibliographic referencing method. After introducing the Iconclass method, the current article elaborates on the efficiency aspects of this method in documenting and classifying artistic works.
Findings: The findings of this research indicate that the mentioned method has three main capabilities: firstly, unlike methods focusing on the formal and visual classification of artworks, this method enables understanding the content of artworks beyond their visual form. One of the contents found in the artistic work resulting from this method is symbolic and mythological themes hidden in the images. This provides the audience with the opportunity to go beyond the superficial and obvious aspects and delve into the literary, historical, mythological, and other dimensions related to the artistic work. As mentioned earlier, this is also observed at the second level of Erwin Panofsky's method (iconographic analysis). At this level, the image is linked to other texts using the Iconclass method, enabling a more extensive understanding and analysis of the work. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that with this method, it is possible to somewhat identify the personalities, symbols, allegories, and signs present in the images. Furthermore, it should be noted that the content-based classification (iconographic) has mostly been prepared and made available to date in specific subjects with special needs in limited countries (mostly Western) and centered around Western art. The Iconclass method provides an opportunity to classify artistic works beyond national boundaries and the dual classifications of East and West. Secondly, using this method, documentation and classification of artworks are also based on the content of the works, allowing for the introduction and analysis of complex patterns, themes, and their interrelationships for the documenter. This enables the documentarian to provide a precise and reliable analysis and interpretation of artistic works by selecting vocabulary, symbols, notes, signs, and organizing them in a hierarchical structure. With the hierarchical structure of the mentioned method, the documentarian can easily filter and separate the necessary data, as the subsets of each class are classified as alphanumeric data. Thirdly, the researcher gains access to a set of resources related to the subject, enhancing the research study`s speed and depth. In other words, this method simplifies the search process for young researchers, making it easy and transparent for them to move from the data and initial description of the work to a deeper level and grasp the relationship between text and image. Furthermore, the use of controlled vocabulary provides an opportunity for a consistent and unbiased description of artistic works. In other words, it can be said that this method enables researchers to uncover hidden themes in artistic works.
Conclusion: The method mentioned here eliminates the challenges of accessing resources related to artistic works and assists researchers in retrieving images more easily. By utilizing this approach, museums and art collections can classify items in their collections. It also contributes to producing lists and catalogs for museums. This, in turn, will help advancing art history research.
 
Keywords
Iconclass
documentation
classification
Iconography
museum
artworks
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