Short course: Watermarks & Computational Art History

In May 2025, the RKD will be organising a short course on watermark analysis using digital tools. The four-day course will be offered twice and will be led by Prof. Rick Johnson, pioneer in computational art history and professor emeritus at Cornell University. Registration for the short course is closed.

Analysis of watermarks

Watermarks are an important tool in researching the origin, production and dating of artworks on paper. The short course Watermarks & Computational Art History offers MA/PhD students, curators and other art historians the opportunity to gain insight into the analysis of watermarks in paper using digital tools. During this four-day course (being offered on two different weeks) you will receive a thorough introduction to watermark research. The focus will be on the technical and practical aspects of identifying and comparing watermarks, with the aim of learning to use specially developed tools and improving and applying so-called watermark libraries in art-historical research. 

The short course is part of the research project Watermarks. This project uses innovative digital tools and image processing techniques to improve the process of watermark identification and comparison. The project uses the Watermark Imaging System (WIMSy), a mobile device that can scan drawings and their structures, including watermarks, in a matter of minutes.

Programme

Day 1: Introduction – History and use of watermarks in dating techniques.
Day 2: Practice – Working with digital tools for watermark analysis. 
Day 3: Practice – Building a structured watermark library. 
Day 4: Application – Independent research and assignments with case studies.

Plus: Friday afternoon 16 May - Public lecture by Prof. Rick Johnson and Dr. Rob Fucci.