Sygnatura

Sygnatura is the signature or autograph of the creator placed on a work of art or an important document to indicate authorship and authenticity. In Polish art terminology, the term is used especially for the artist’s written signature on a work such as a painting, drawing, graphic print, or sculpture, often alongside other identifying marks.

In visual arts, sygnatura can take the form of a handwritten name, initials, or a pseudonym, and may also include the date or place of creation. The placement varies by medium and artist, but common locations include the lower right corner of the image, a corner of the margin, or the reverse side of the work. For prints and multiples, the sygnatura is frequently accompanied by edition information, such as an edition number (for example, 12/50) and sometimes a studio mark or chop.

The presence and clarity of a sygnatura are important for provenance and authentication. Collectors, galleries, and museums rely on the signature to verify authorship and to assess the work’s value. Conversely, the absence of a signature does not automatically negate value or originality, but it can complicate authentication.

Etymology and usage: sygnatura derives from Latin signatura and is the Polish term for what in English is commonly called a signature or autograph. In art discourse, sygnatura distinguishes the author’s hand from other inscriptions, stamps, or labels that may appear on a piece.