Art and archives: theoretical and practical definitions of documentary art in Canadian archives

Abstract

The nature of art held by archives, known collectively as “documentary art,” exists across Canada, but what is meant by documentary art has not been discussed. In this thesis, both theoretical and practical definitions and their application to the collections will be explored. This will be done by examining three broad dimensions: the limited theoretical writing that tries to define art in archives; the broader base of art theory over the past centuries as well as writings about art within the Canadian context; and the historical evolution, practices, and personal ideas of archivists who work with art, and comparing these to the ideas and understanding about documentary art held by professionals in the art gallery world.