The Significance of Signing an Artwork

“To be or not to be” could be generalized to an essential aspect of an artwork creation ” to sign or not to sign.” As you may understand, signing an artwork could take it to the way of being saved or being dead. What do you want for your work? Without any doubt, your answer is life. Signature refers to the final attempts of an artist who wants to show his goal to create a masterpiece. You will separate yourself from others by taking a unique but legible signature to a piece of art. From the dawn of time, talented artists of different parts of the world found various methods to put their names on a piece. Signing a work is a way to familiarize ordinary people with your notable aspect of being. The changing world asks artists to promote their position on a complicated pyramid called the life of art. To help people remember your name in this complex atmosphere, you must know about the necessity of signing an artwork. The following part explains crucial reasons why artists should sign their works.

 

The Earliest Evidence of Artists’ Signature

The early Renaissance was the rising point to popularize signing an artwork. Some scholars found evidence of art signature in Greek artworks; for instance, the name of ancient Greek ceramists has been embedded on clay vases. This evidence is limited because some believe that the artwork is more important than the creator. The signing was forbidden in religious pieces of art. The first evidence of signing a piece of art has been detected in the works of a well-known Italian painter during the Renaissance era, Raphael. Signing an artwork will bring an artist from the bottom pages of history to the surface. On the one hand, signing adds to the value of an artist’s creative work, and on the other hand, gives a clear answer to viewers’ questions, like who is the creator or when and where the artist’s labor is completed?

 

The necessity of signing an artwork

An artist’s signature, irrespective of its appearance, is an inseparable piece of artwork creation, showing it’s time to display the art. This process means an artist’s creativity to give birth to a beautiful piece of art. Art is a mysterious world of secrets ranging from ideation and creation to exhibition work. The signature emphasizes the artwork’s creator. In other words, it’s an ID; whether you are present or absent in an Art Fair, your audiences will know you. A significant number of artists pay less attention to the importance of signing a work; however, it is more important than signing a check to avoid the following problems. Make famous your name and art by signing a work.

 

The Reasons for not Signing an Artwork

Signing a piece of art stands for the authenticity of a work, and viewers and buyers know the artist quickly. One of the main reasons not to sign work is that the artist hasn’t completed his work or thinks that putting a name on an artwork doesn’t allow him to change the details. Signing the work becomes a big problem for this group. Artistic works represent the artist’s emotional and mental state and display the inner feeling, so some artists become nervous about revealing their life’s stories. Some artists think that their piece of art isn’t admirable enough to attract buyers and viewers. Change your viewpoint and assess them objectively because your work will be evaluated by others. The signing of work is blended with the artist’s feelings; however, it may give the sense of good-for-nothing to put a name on a work. The artist and his powerful hand are a permanent part of creating admirable artworks.

Last but not least, some artists say that their works are unique, and everyone can recognize it among many works due to their particular style and way of art creating. It is a big mistake to think everybody knows you. Signing an artwork is a rule of thumb; remember this point for good.

 

The Influence of Signature Engineering

According to Amir Sharifi and other curators, the less an artist and his signature is known intentionally (a handful of artists feature worldwide reputation), apply an appropriate signature to help people differentiate your art from others. Remember those famous artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, signed their works to authenticate them. Never underestimate the influence of your unique signature because it displays your personality features. Please select one and apply it to all pieces of art. The angle, size, and legibility reveal many characteristics, like ambition, creativity, despair, optimism, inner suffering, and many other things. You are allowed to put your signature on a piece, which may be shaped in many dots, circles, squares, etc., in the lower-left or right corner or even in the backside. It is recommended to put it on the lower right side that people easily find. Although your signature is your brand, it shouldn’t ruin the artwork. Otherwise, you will destroy the unity of your artwork. The more logical and legible your signature is, the better it presents you as a capable artist. Your name must be signed so clearly that everyone ranging from experts to ordinary viewers can read it. In a congregation in Isfahan Painters Assembly, Amir Sharifi claimed that if you insist on leaving an illegible signature on work, make yourself identifiable for others by using a label and offering more information about your art.

 

The Crisis of Illegible Signatures

Select readable and recognizable signatures to be understood for everyone, not a limited number of visitors who know you and your unique signature; otherwise, a few people will know you. There are similar reasons for not putting a name on the artwork and selecting illegible signatures, such as the beautiful appearance, impressing visitors, and making a signature unique. Some believe that illegible signatures are mysterious meanings understand only by some people, while others believe that their universal reputation doesn’t need explanation. The chance of selecting artistic signatures which date back to old periods challenges people to identify the artist. Some websites, including http://artistssignature.com, are devoted to over 10000 signatures to inspire artists, although the paid services are better and help earn more information.

Illegible signatures won’t give an artwork a suitable identity. Although many people know a piece’s creator, they buy it because they like it and ignore the artist’s role. Unfortunately, these artworks aren’t signed, and nobody knows about the artist; thereby, he will be forgotten by people. The fame of an artist will add to its work’s price and value; it is an undeniable fact. Keep in mind that illegible signatures will prevent your development, and you will lose the opportunity to show your work to more people.

Signing an artwork is important, so whether you want to bring life to your piece or death. Avoid not signing your art because few art lovers search the net to learn about your art. Please don’t bring a tragic end to your works by sending them to live in a basement, locker, attic, garage sales, flea markets, fireplaces, or even the trash bins. Having a national or international reputation won’t guarantee your art’s life as it is the same about famous artists. Unique and signed works will be rediscovered through the pages of history for one good reason, the artist’s signature. Save your artwork and choose a recognizable signature; otherwise, stand by the unpleasant consequences.

 

The Danger of Artwork Anonymity

The role of an artist is ignored in trading, selling, or donating work, and divorce, death, and similar events destroy the identity of the artwork. Honestly, people buy a work because they like it, and the artist’s name isn’t important; after a while, they may give it to a new owner or throw it out. Should the next owner know about the creator of this artwork when it doesn’t have a signature, and the first buyer hasn’t mentioned a word about him? Of course not, then the artist will be Mr. or Mrs. nobody. This process brings your work with the unpleasant danger of anonymity. The executive director and owner of Amiran Holding Company, Amir Sharifi, claimed in Isfahan Artist’s House that an artist’s reputation and the value of using a legible signature on work go hand in hand. Imagine that a wealthy lady likes to buy an unknown artist’s work for 100 bucks. She doesn’t care about the artist’s labor and the time spent on the work; she buys it because of her interest in the piece of art. In the following years or even months, she may lose interest in the artwork and decide to give it to a new owner who knows nothing about the artist.

Now let change the scenario; this time, the artist is somewhat distinguished with a unique signature, and his fame increased the piece’s price. Can you feel what will happen right now? The artist’s signed work starts a new journey of fame and life. This example can show the necessity of taking eligible signatures which are completely understandable for others. None of the spiritual guides or angels could help save your unsigned work.

 

Points to Increase your Work’s Life Cycle

• Don’t tire yourself by taking symbols, letters, or monograms to guide the piece of art into an anonymity process. If your technique is watercolor, don’t use oil color to sign it or vice versa; otherwise, you will be accused of forging. The significance of using a genuine and unquestionable signature is more noticeable than past.
• To raise your work’s authenticity, use the same techniques to sign and create your work, including watercolor, oil color, or acrylic (except for specific works like photography). Forgery is a big problem in the art world, and none of the famous or unknown artists are safe.
• Brand your work by adding monograms, letters, or digital prints to prevent forgers from copying your work.
• Follow signature consistency and use a similar style, size, color, and location to publicize the uniquity of your work. Now your artwork is easily identifiable. Sign all of your artworks with a unique and standard style to help art lovers and authenticators know you comfortably.
• Put a date on your work either in the front or the back to display completion time. After all, dating a work displays your development over time, especially if you are a less-known artist. You may put it on the edge, backside, or front side.
• Don’t undervalue the role of handwritten information on your work to help experts put their fingers on your work. It will reduce the possibility of forging your work. You may benefit from factors such as the birthplace of an artwork, numbers, or titles to make it unique.
• Put your fingerprints or digital identifier on your work in addition to handwritten information to prevent copying and to replicate.
• Don’t lose a minute to sign your work; embed your signature into your wet work to attract hard-to-please collectors. Blend your signature with your artwork’s physical body to create excellent work. If you sign completed work, it may bring this question that why your signature is added after a long time.
• Don’t put the authenticity of your work at stake by signing a completed work too late.
• Blend your signature with the artwork and avoid bolding it unless you are happy to highlight your work’s characteristics.
• Don’t scratch your signature to align it with your artwork. It is highly suggested to match your signature with the artwork’s background and avoid any conflict. Otherwise, it will endanger your work at the risk of forgery.

 

Conclusion

You can’t guide your artwork to keep it in a safe atmosphere. The present purchaser won’t hold it forever, and your name will vanish at the passage of time. Raise the value and importance of your artwork by choosing legible signatures to be famous like other artists. Avoid illegible and mysterious signatures and replace them with simple and readable ones. Following the points mentioned above will take you into the circle of famous artists.