Listaskrá

Listaskrá is an Icelandic term that translates to "art registry" or "art catalog." It generally refers to a collection or database of artworks, often maintained by institutions such as museums, galleries, or art organizations. The primary purpose of a listaskrá is to document and organize an art collection, providing a structured overview of the pieces it contains.

These registries typically include essential information about each artwork. This commonly comprises the artist's name, the title of the work, the year of creation, the medium used (e.g., oil on canvas, sculpture, photograph), dimensions, and provenance, which details the ownership history of the piece. In some cases, a listaskrá might also include acquisition details, exhibition history, conservation notes, and high-resolution images of the artworks.

The creation and maintenance of a listaskrá are crucial for proper collection management. It aids in inventory control, research, exhibition planning, loaning of artworks, and scholarly study. For larger institutions, a digital listaskrá is often a sophisticated database system that allows for efficient searching, retrieval, and analysis of collection data. Smaller organizations or private collectors might maintain simpler, spreadsheet-based lists. The concept emphasizes the importance of systematically recording and preserving information about artistic creations.