kunstverket

Kunstverket is a term used in Norwegian and Swedish to denote a single work of art. It translates to “the work of art” and is formed from the words for art (kunst/konst) and the work (verket).

In Norwegian Bokmål, the indefinite form is et kunstverk and the definite form is kunstverket; in Swedish, the base form is konstverk and the definite form is konstverket. The term is cognate with the German Kunstwerk and is commonly used in museum labels, catalogs, and art criticism to refer to an individual item rather than a collection or style.

As a general reference, kunstverket is used for tangible objects such as paintings, sculptures, and installations, while still functioning as a neutral label for a specific piece within a broader discourse about art. It is usually distinguished from terms that denote genres, movements, or performances.

In cross-linguistic contexts, the related German term Kunstwerk appears in philosophy and aesthetics, notably in discussions about the nature of the artwork. In everyday Scandinavian usage, kunstverket carries the usual import of “the artwork” rather than a particular theoretical stance, though it can be employed in analytic or critical writing to discuss authenticity, originality, and the status of a concrete object.

See also: Kunstwerk (German term), konstverk, kunstkritikk.