author / researcher Monica Marchesi, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
In collaboration with Vivian van Saaze, Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) and Maastricht University
Photographic artworks that originate as digital image files and only materialize upon printing challenge traditional conservation models. Responsibility for transforming these files into physical prints is increasingly shared by collecting institutions, rather than resting solely with the artist.
The guideline From Bits to Ink: Preserving and Printing Digital-Based Photographic Artworks, developed as part of the NWO Museum Grant Project ‘Print on Demand: Printing Digital-Based Artworks Through a Collaborative Mode of Production’, explores how museums can effectively manage the process of translating digital files into photographic prints. It advocates for a careful and thoughtful approach every step of the way, from acquisition to (re)printing.
Rather than prescribing a fixed procedure, the guideline offers a flexible, adaptable framework that can respond to evolving technologies, materials, and organizational changes within collecting institutions. Its primary goal is to manage variability across different iterations of an artwork by prioritizing the documentation of work-defining characteristics and clarifying roles and responsibilities within the network of care. It also serves as a practical framework for institutions lacking formal digital preservation policies.
The guideline visualizes these key areas in two flowcharts:
Preservation of Digital Files (green)Outlines essential foundational actions, including identifying file formats, assessing their long-term sustainability, and documenting the provenance and authenticity of digital files.
Re)printing of Digital-Based Photographic Artworks (blue)Summarizes essential questions for caretakers during both the acquisition phase and the (re)printing process. These include clarifying the artist’s expectations regarding print quality and acceptable variations from earlier iterations, documenting technical specifications. The flowchart also emphasizes documenting the prints after display, including any disposal or changes in status, to maintain a comprehensive and transparent record of the artwork’s biography for future reference.
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