Research and Selecting

Research and Resources for the Comparative Study

Before starting your Comparative Study, you need to find appropriate resources and do preliminary research on the artworks you will compare. Choosing artworks with readily available background information will make it easier to gather details and compile your bibliography. Museums and galleries are a good place to start if you are unsure about your sources.

Primary and Secondary Sources

A primary source is an original document, creative work, artifact, or relic that has not been interpreted by a third party. In art, examples include viewing an artwork in person at a museum, gallery, or artist’s studio, or interviewing an artist directly. When you experience the work first-hand, it is a primary source. If this is not possible, use high-quality reproductions from art books or exhibition catalogues instead of low-resolution internet images.

Secondary sources are interpretations, descriptions, or analyses made by others, such as articles, books, or videos discussing the work.

Using the Internet

When using online sources, check the reliability of the website and author. Reputable sources often include museum, university, or artist websites that provide educational content.

Referencing

You must acknowledge all sources you use, including images, text extracts, and quotes. Give full details of every source, whether you paraphrase or directly quote. Use a consistent referencing style. Start collecting your source details early to save time later.

Examples of sources to include:

• Participation in workshops

• Exhibition catalogues

• Filmed interviews with artists

• Lectures and lecture notes

• Audio recordings and soundtracks

• Newspaper and magazine articles

• Online forums or groups

• Feedback from others

• Films, television, and radio programmes

Citing Sources

For images: Artist / Title / Date / Media / Source
For texts: Author / Title / Publisher / Date / Page or Website

If citing internet sources, include the artist, details of the work, the full URL, and the date you accessed the page.
Example: Diego Velasquez / Las Meninas / 1656 / Oil on canvas 318 × 108.7 inches / Museo del Prado, Madrid

Not all artworks found online are reliable choices for your Comparative Study. Avoid using images from platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, or Google Images unless you know the source is credible. Select artworks that have significant critical recognition and published material available, such as books, articles, or interviews. This will make it easier to research and create your bibliography. Museums and galleries are a good starting point if you are unsure about a source’s suitability

For your Comparative Study, select at least three artworks by a minimum of two different artists. They should come from different cultural or historical contexts and can be from any fine or applied art form, including painting, sculpture, print, photography, textiles, installation, new media, architecture, artifacts, or designed objects. Choose works that are meaningful to you and have enough depth for strong formal or conceptual comparison. Your selection might focus on a theme, key works in art history, or a Theory of Knowledge question.

HL students should choose works connected to their own art-making interests, considering:

• What you are working on in the studio

• Techniques and media you are exploring

• Ideas and themes that interest you

• Recent exhibitions you have seen