Art & Architecture Thesaurus
The Getty Research Institute, edited by Art and Architecture Thesaurus (AAT ) is a hierarchically structured, multilingual thesaurus for object development of art and cultural history collections. With approximately 35,000 terms and 245,000 names of AAT covers the areas of art, architecture and material culture comprehensively.
Due to its multilinguality and the broad spectrum of topics, the AAT is used as an international standard. Originally started as an English-language thesaurus that it is currently available in English, Dutch, Spanish and mostly Chinese. A German version is currently being prepared at the Institute for Museum Research.
Structure of the AAT
The AAT is a hierarchically structured list of terms ( Terms). Each label is part of a concept. Each concept has, for each language variant a preferred term; alternative names are also possible. In addition to the preferred term, a concept always has a unique identification number and within the hierarchical context of a "parent " concept. Defines a so-called Scope note and explains the concept. Besides these strictly hierarchical relationships, the structure of the AAT also allows equivalent and associative relationships.
Structure
The AAT is divided into eight facets:
1 Objects Designations for real, man-made objects, such as paintings or buildings. It is the largest facet.
2 Associated Concepts Names for abstract concepts and phenomena, such as abstract art, interdisciplinarity or provenance.
3 Physical Attributes Names for observable or measurable characteristics, such as size, surface characteristics, or opacity.
4 Styles and Periods Designations of styles and eras, such as Baroque or Stone Age. In addition, the facet includes religions and ethnic groups (Christian, Turkmen ).
5 Agents Names of actors such as individuals, groups, organizations that are defined by their actions and activities. It can be found in this facet professionals ( landscape painter, musician), religious, social and political groups ( suffragettes, veterans, dictators ), but also forms of organization ( guilds ) and organisms (fungi ).
6 Activities Designations for physical and mental activities, processes or actions, such as pilgrims, research or cutting peat.
7 material Designations for natural and artificial physical substances, such as leather, papyrus and ink.
8 Brand Names Names for brand name. This facet is new and hitherto provided with 35 entries.
The AAT is subject to strict editorial control by the Getty Research Institute, which also supervises the constant deepening of topics and expanding the range of topics and also regulates the necessary structural adjustments. This continuous care allows the high quality that the AAT in terms of its structure, its hierarchical structure, the variety of names as well as the content and scope of the references and name definitions ( scope notes ) can boast.
Area of application
As part of the documentation of the AAT is used as a controlled word list. The hierarchical and relational structure and the multilingualism of the AAT offer great advantages in the context of the acquisition of collection items and if it is used in the search.