Controlled Vocabularies - Michael J Wright Digital Archive

Audience: Curators (primary) · Library integrators (secondary)

Use this doc when you need to: choose consistent repeatable values (types, media/format, keywords) so items cluster and sort reliably.

Related:

• Field mapping to Fedora: Metadata Model

Overview

This document establishes standardized terminology for consistent metadata across the archive. Use these controlled values in dc:subject, dc:format, and other repeating fields.

1. Artwork Types (dc:type)

Use exactly as listed (maps to catalog ID type code):

2. Painting Media & Techniques (dc:format)

Primary Media

• Oil on canvas
• Oil on board
• Oil on panel
• Acrylic on canvas
• Acrylic on board
• Watercolor on paper
• Gouache on paper
• Mixed media on canvas
• Mixed media on board
• Pastel on paper
• Charcoal on paper
• Graphite on paper
• Ink on paper

Combined Techniques

When multiple media used, list in order of dominance:

• Oil and acrylic on canvas
• Watercolor and ink on paper
• Charcoal and pastel on paper

Format Pattern: {Medium} on {Support}

3. Photograph Formats (dc:format)

Analog/Traditional

• Gelatin silver print
• Chromogenic print (C-print)
• Cibachrome print (Ilfochrome)
• Platinum print
• Albumen print
• Polaroid photograph
• Medium format negative
• Large format negative

Digital

• Digital photograph (generic)
• Digital photograph; inkjet print (if printed)
• Digital photograph; archival pigment print
• Digital C-print (digital exposure to photographic paper)

Add technical details in schema:exifData field, not in dc:format

3a. Drawing & Print Media (dc:format)

Dry Media

• Graphite on paper
• Charcoal on paper
• Pastel on paper
• Colored pencil on paper
• Conte crayon on paper
• Chalk on paper

Wet Media

• Ink on paper
• Ink wash on paper
• Watercolor on paper
• Gouache on paper

Print Techniques

• Etching
• Lithograph
• Screenprint
• Woodcut
• Linocut
• Monotype
• Digital print

Mixed

• Mixed media on paper
• Collage on paper
• Collage on board

Format Pattern: {Medium} on {Support}

3b. Supports & Substrates (for dc:format)

Paper Types

• Acid-free paper
• Archival paper
• Bristol board
• Cartridge paper
• Cotton rag paper
• Handmade paper
• Hot-pressed paper
• Cold-pressed paper
• Rough paper
• Vellum
• Tracing paper
• Newsprint
• Kraft paper
• Japanese paper (washi)
• Watercolor paper
• Drawing paper
• Printmaking paper

Paper Sizes (ISO 216 A-series)

• A0 (841 × 1189 mm)
• A1 (594 × 841 mm)
• A2 (420 × 594 mm)
• A3 (297 × 420 mm)
• A4 (210 × 297 mm)
• A5 (148 × 210 mm)

Paper Sizes (Imperial/Traditional)

• Full sheet (22 × 30 in / 56 × 76 cm)
• Half sheet (15 × 22 in / 38 × 56 cm)
• Quarter sheet (11 × 15 in / 28 × 38 cm)
• Folio
• Quarto
• Octavo

Board & Panel Supports

• Canvas board
• Hardboard (Masonite)
• MDF panel
• Plywood panel
• Wood panel
• Gesso board
• Clayboard
• Illustration board
• Mounting board
• Foam board

Canvas Supports

• Stretched canvas
• Canvas on stretcher bars
• Canvas on board
• Linen canvas
• Cotton canvas
• Raw canvas
• Primed canvas

Backing & Mounting

• Acid-free backing board
• Archival mounting board
• Conservation backing
• Wood backing board
• Foam core backing

Format Pattern: {Medium} on {Paper Type}, {Size} or {Medium} on {Support}

Examples:

• Graphite on cartridge paper, A3
• Charcoal on cold-pressed paper
• Watercolor on Arches 300gsm, half sheet
• Oil on linen canvas
• Pastel on acid-free paper with foam core backing

3c. Sculpture Materials (dc:format)

Primary Materials

• Bronze
• Marble
• Stone
• Wood
• Clay
• Terracotta
• Ceramic
• Plaster
• Concrete
• Steel
• Aluminum
• Copper
• Glass
• Resin
• Mixed media
• Found objects

Techniques

• Cast bronze
• Carved wood
• Carved stone
• Welded steel
• Assembled
• Modeled clay
• Slip cast ceramic
• Hand-built ceramic

Format Pattern: {Material} or {Technique}, {Material}

Examples:

• Cast bronze
• Carved Huon pine
• Welded steel and copper

4. Subject Keywords (dc:subject)

Primary Subjects (Thematic)

Landscape & Nature:

• Landscape
• Seascape
• Coast
• Mountains
• Desert
• Forest
• Australian landscape
• Urban landscape
• Rural landscape

Natural Elements:

• Trees
• Flowers
• Botanical
• Native flora
• Wildlife
• Sky
• Weather
• Seasons

Human Subjects:

• Portrait
• Figure
• Self-portrait
• Group portrait
• Nude study

Architecture & Built Environment:

• Architecture
• Interiors
• Industrial
• Urban
• Ruins

Abstract & Conceptual:

• Abstract
• Non-objective
• Color study
• Texture
• Light study

Geographic Subjects

Regions:

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Tasmania
• Northern Territory
• Australian Capital Territory
• Blue Mountains
• Outback
• Great Barrier Reef

International (if applicable):

• Europe
• Asia
• North America
• (Specific countries/cities as needed)

Art Historical/Cultural

• Australian art
• Contemporary art
• Modern art
• Indigenous influence (if culturally appropriate and accurate)
• Impressionism
• Expressionism
• Realism
• Abstraction

Temporal

• Historical (pre-1900)
• 20th century
• 21st century
• 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, etc. (by decade)

Literary Subjects (for Poems)

• Nature poetry
• Lyric poetry
• Narrative poetry
• Ekphrastic poetry (poetry about visual art)
• Australian literature
• Love poetry
• Elegy
• Meditation
• Social commentary

Notebook Subjects

• Travel writing
• Artist notebooks
• Sketchbook
• Field notes
• Personal journals
• Creative process
• Drafts and revisions

5. Series Names (dcterms:isPartOf)

Active Series (update as new series identified):

• Coastal Studies Series
• Desert Series
• Blue Mountains Landscapes
• Urban Fragments
• Native Flora Documentation Project
• Winter Sonnets Collection
• Outback Journals 1989-1992
• Portrait Studies
• Abstract Compositions

Format: Use title case; avoid "The" prefix unless part of formal title

6. Copyright & Rights (dc:rights)

Standard Statement

Copyright © Michael J Wright. All rights reserved.

Alternative Statements (if applicable)

Copyright © Michael J Wright. All rights reserved. Licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Copyright © Michael J Wright. Estate of Michael J Wright. All rights reserved.

Public Domain (if copyright expired or explicitly released; consult legal advice)

7. Language Codes (dc:language)

Primary:

• en-AU (English - Australian)

Alternatives (if multilingual content):

• en-US (English - American)
• en-GB (English - British)
• fr (French)
• de (German)

Use ISO 639-1 codes

8. Dimensions (schema:artworkSurface)

Format Pattern

{Height} x {Width} cm
or
{Height} x {Width} inches

Examples:

• 76 x 101 cm
• 30 x 40 inches

For 3D Works (if applicable)

{Height} x {Width} x {Depth} cm

Example: 45 x 60 x 10 cm

For Irregular Works

Approximately {Height} x {Width} cm

9. Condition Terminology (dcterms:provenance)

Conservation States

• Excellent - No visible damage or deterioration
• Very good - Minor wear consistent with age
• Good - Some visible wear; stable
• Fair - Noticeable damage; requires conservation attention
• Poor - Significant damage; urgent conservation needed

Common Issues

• Craquelure (fine cracks in paint)
• Foxing (brown spots on paper)
• Fading (light damage to pigments)
• Discoloration
• Water damage
• Tears or Punctures
• Abrasion
• Frame damage
• Mold or Mildew

Format Pattern: {State}; {specific issues with location}

Example: Very good; minor craquelure upper left quadrant; slight fading to blue pigments

10. Exhibition & Publication Status

Exhibition History (schema:relatedLink)

Format: {Exhibition Name}, {Venue}, {Year}

Examples:

• Sydney Biennale, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 1988
• Australian Landscapes, National Gallery of Victoria, 1995-1996
• Solo Exhibition, Regional Gallery Toowoomba, 2003

Publication References (dcterms:bibliographicCitation)

Format: {Publication Title}, {Details}, {Year}

Examples:

• Featured in "Contemporary Australian Artists", Thames & Hudson, 1992
• Southern Voices Quarterly, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 45-47, 1996
• Artist profile in Australian Art Collector, Issue 89, 2019

11. Location & Provenance

Current Location (schema:contentLocation)

• Private collection, [City]
• Artist's estate
• [Institution name], [City] (if in museum/gallery)
• On loan to [Institution]
• Location unknown
• Sold; current location undisclosed

Examples:

• Private collection, Melbourne
• Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
• Artist's estate

Provenance (dcterms:provenance)

Format: Chronological ownership history

Example:

Artist's collection (1987-1995); Private collection, Sydney (1995-2010); 
Acquired by current owner, Melbourne (2010-present)

12. File Format Codes (dc:format for digital resources)

Image Formats

• image/jpeg - JPEG photographs/paintings
• image/tiff - TIFF archival masters
• image/png - PNG graphics
• application/pdf - PDF documents

Text Formats

• text/plain - Plain text
• text/html - HTML documents
• application/pdf - PDF text

Use MIME types for digital file formats

Usage Guidelines

Selecting Keywords

1. Accuracy: Only use terms that accurately describe the work
2. Specificity: Balance specific terms (e.g., "Blue Mountains") with general (e.g., "Landscape")
3. Quantity: Use 3-7 subject keywords per work
4. Consistency: Always check if term already exists before creating new variant

Adding New Terms

If a needed term doesn't exist:

1. Check if similar term can be adapted
2. Consult Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) or Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT) for standard forms
3. Propose new term to curator for addition to this document
4. Update controlled vocabulary list to maintain consistency

Formatting Rules

• Capitalization: Use title case for series names, proper nouns; sentence case for descriptions
• Spelling: Use Australian English spelling (e.g., "colour" not "color", "centre" not "center")
• Punctuation: Avoid terminal punctuation in keywords; use commas to separate multiple values in arrays
• Abbreviations: Spell out in full unless standard abbreviation (e.g., "NSW" acceptable for New South Wales in geographic context)

Revision History

Update Frequency: Review quarterly; add terms as needed during curation