onderschriften

Onderschriften are teksten that accompany a visual element such as a photograph, illustration, diagram, map, or sculpture. They are placed beneath or beside the image and serve to identify and explain it. Typical components of an onderschrift include the title or brief description, the date or period, the creator or owner, and sometimes the source or a short annotation.

In practice, onderschriften help readers understand the context of an image without consulting the main text. In art history, publications, encyclopedias and scientific works, they may provide identifications (for example, the artist, subject, and year) as well as a concise note about the image. The level of detail varies by genre and publication.

Typographically, onderschriften are usually set in a smaller or lighter type than the body text and placed directly beneath the image. Some layouts use a separating line or a distinct caption block. In maps or technical figures, the onderschrift can also include scale, coordinates, or methodological notes.

In the digital age, captions on websites and image databases perform the same function as traditional onderschriften; they aid comprehension and searchability. Accessibility-wise, alternative text (alt text) fulfills a related role for assistive technologies, though it is not a visible onderschrift.

Etymology: the term comes from onder (under) and schrift (writing). The concept is distinct from ondertitels, which are subtitles for films or videos, whereas onderschriften refer to text associated with still images or illustrations.