Using the Database

What to find

As explained in more detail in the section “Content of the database”, the database contains information on paintings and drawings from catalogs of modern art exhibitions that took place between 1905 and 1915.

FAQ

What is the difference between the “Browse” and “Advanced Search” options?

While the browse option lets you skim through the different sections of the database (exhibitions, artists, catalogue entries, venues, organizing bodies…) with a few filtering options available in each section, the advanced search enables you to combine searches across the 5 sections and apply numerous filters at once. Results in both searches can be displayed or downloaded (csv/Excel) in the form of lists, statistics and maps.

 

What is the “My Data” section for?

The “My Data” section enables you to create an account by setting a username and password in order to be able to save customized searches and/or filtered search results.

 

What statistics, analysis- and visualisation tools does DoME offer?

DoME provides a large set of analysis and visualization tools which deliver results on specific issues – such as pie charts to illustrate gender or age distribution, matrices to answer the question of which nationalities have exhibited how many works in which countries, or bar Charts in order to clarify how many exhibitions have taken place per year or per month. In each case the different tools are displayed under the index Statistics.

 

Historical addresses on contemporary maps?

Be aware that addresses of venues, organising bodies and artists given in the database are historical addresses (with the exception of addresses of catalogue holding institutions). Therefore, all pins on maps are only accurate to the city level, not the street level, as locations are likely to have changed since the 1905-1915 period. In order to avoid confusion as much as possible, a zoom limit has been applied to the maps so as not to show a specific location on the map. Maps cannot be downloaded. If using screenshots of the maps, please remember to include the map’s quotation (lower right hand corner).

Similarly, nationalities given in the database reflect the country borders of the early 21st century. Therefore, an artist like Malevich, born in Kiev (former Russian Empire), will be listed as Ukrainian, not Russian.

 

Which calendar (Gregorian vs. Julian) do the given dates correspond to?

All given dates (except those which explicitly state otherwise) correspond to the Gregorian calendar. Dates from Russian exhibition catalogues which were based on the Julian calendar have been converted (with the original Julian date appended in brackets).

 

Can I export the raw data?

An export in raw data format (csv/Excel) of all data, whether filtered and/or combined between sections or not, is possible at all times. An export of the raw data might enable further analysis and even more customized use.

 

What download options are available in DoME?

All search results are downloadable in the form of lists, statistical visualisations and raw data, in several file formats (e.g. PNG, JPEG, PDF, SVG etc.) via the ” ≡ ” symbol, located in the right-hand corner of each visualisation. Maps cannot be downloaded.

 

By what standards and rules was the data entered into DoME?

The standards as per which the data has been entered into the database as well as the rules by which the various fields have been filled in can be found here.

 

How can an exhibition be found by using its DoME-ID?

If you would like to refer to one specific exhibition in DoME or would like to come back to one, it is possible – instead of using the exhibition title – to use the specific DoME-ID which is assigned to each exhibition. To achieve this, the respective ID has to be inserted at the end of the following URL: http://exhibitions.univie.ac.at/exhibition/XXXX (e.g.: http://exhibitions.univie.ac.at/exhibition/1085).

 

How do I quote (re)searches and results from DoME?

Please be aware that the database is still in an ongoing updating process, results may therefore change on an almost daily basis. We suggest quoting data/results as follows: “DoME, insert URL, accessed on DATE.” Additionally, a quotation recommendation is made at the bottom of every entry which also includes the date it was last modified.

If using screenshots of the maps, please remember to include the map’s quotation (lower right hand corner).

 

A few artists in DoME have an additional column/tab called “Works” – What information is shown here?

In some cases, works of art from recognized catalogues raisonnés were identified as identical with entries listed in exhibition catalogues and thus with recorded catalogue entries in DoME. These identified works of artists like e.g. Giacomo Balla, Umberto Boccioni, Vassily Kandinsky, František Kupka, Kazimir Malevich, Piet Mondrian, Edvard Munch or Francis Picabia are shown in the artists’ profiles within the tab “Works”. The number in square brackets immediately following the work’s title is the number that this particular work has been attributed in the respective catalogue raisonné.

 

Why are some exhibitions incomplete or “empty”?

DoME contains about 300 exhibitions with incomplete data entries or no entries at all. This is either because we were unable to locate a copy of the exhibition catalogue (these exhibitions are marked as “no catalogue available”) or because the published catalogue could not be traced or entered before the end of the project. This applies in particular to exhibitions of the Salons de la Société des Artistes Indépendants and the Salons de la Société du Salon d’Automne (both in Paris). Due to the size of those salon catalogues, data entry exceeded the capacity available in the project, and we decided to give priority to entering information on smaller and lesser known exhibitions. These exhibitions are all marked as “This exhibition has not yet been completely entered” and their status is either “pending” or “in progress”. In some cases, information has been added from secondary sources – a note will cite those sources accordingly. Please note that these incomplete or “empty” exhibitions may distort your statistical results when included in your search.

 

What do I do if the database shows an error message or I have a question or suggestion for DoME?

In case of malfunctioning of the database or questions regarding its content and/or functions, feel free to get in touch with the project team via contact.exhibitions@univie.ac.at or the form prepared in the “Contact” section.