retrospektiv

Retrospektiv is a term used in several languages, notably German, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, to describe something that looks back over a past period. In German, the related noun is Retrospektive and the adjective form is retrospektiv; in the Scandinavian languages, Retrospektiv is commonly used as a noun or as an adjective. The word derives from Latin retro- “back” and specere “to look.”

In the arts, a retrospektiv (often written Retrospektive in German-speaking contexts) refers to an exhibition or publication that surveys an artist’s body of work over a span of years or decades. Such retrospectives are typically curated to show development and influence, and they are often accompanied by a catalogue raisonné or critical essays. Retrospectives can also occur in film, music, or architecture, where a program or collection presents representative works from a past period to illuminate trajectory and context.

In research and evaluation, a retrospective study or retrospektiv study looks backward in time, using existing records, memories, or data to examine outcomes. This approach contrasts with prospective studies, which follow subjects forward from a starting point. Retrospective analyses are common in medicine, psychology, and the social sciences, but they can be more prone to certain biases, such as incomplete data or recall bias.

Usage notes: In German, Retrospektive is the standard noun, with retrospektiv as the common adjective before a noun (for example, eine retrospektive Ausstellung). In the Scandinavian languages, Retrospektiv is frequently used as a noun in institutional or exhibition contexts. In English-language usage, retrospective is the standard form, though Retrospektiv may appear in titles or stylistic contexts.