Masako Kawaguchi | For Those Who Will Compile Digital Catalogues Raisonnés: Using the Yoshitomo Nara Foundation's "YOSHITOMO NARA The Works" as a Guide
Masako Kawaguchi discusses the significance and four practical guidelines for compiling digital catalogues raisonnés, using the Yoshitomo Nara Foundation's updated "YOSHITOMO NARA The Works" as a case study.Summary
This article, written by Masako Kawaguchi, examines the significance and current state of digital catalogues raisonnés, using the September 2026 update of the Yoshitomo Nara Foundation's "YOSHITOMO NARA The Works" as a case study. A catalogue raisonné is a comprehensive catalogue of an artist's oeuvre that serves as a foundation for art historical research and a basis for authenticity judgments, yet such publications remain limited in Japan. Kawaguchi praises the update for restructuring the exhibition database into independent records and for the chronology's explicit sourcing. She then offers four guidelines for future compilation. First, think of the catalogue raisonné as continuous with museum collection databases, enriching historical information such as provenance, exhibition history, and literature. Second, create a structure in which works, exhibitions, literature, and owners are given identifiers and managed as independent records that can be cross-referenced. Third, prioritize documentation and evidence over the authority of connoisseurship, making the basis for judgments public. Fourth, treat the catalogue as a sustainable research platform that is published incrementally and updated alongside ongoing research rather than waiting for completion. She hopes these perspectives will help advance full-fledged digital catalogues raisonnés that enhance the presence of Japanese artists.
(Source：artscape)