Which of the following is a primary source of provenance documentation?

• A. Secondary market catalogs and dealer databases.
• B. Title deeds, invoices, correspondence, exhibition records, catalogs raisonnés, and legal transfers.
• C. Social media posts by previous owners.
• D. Press releases about the artist.

Answer: (B)

Provenance documentation rests on records created at the time events happened in the artwork’s life, by the people and institutions directly involved in its ownership and display. These primary sources establish a verifiable chain of title and an authentic history of the work. Title deeds show who owned the piece and when ownership changed hands; invoices capture the sale details; correspondence reveals negotiations and agreements; exhibition records document where and when the work was shown; catalogs raisonnés provide an authoritative record of attribution and the work’s exhibition and ownership history; and legal transfers formally record transfers of ownership. Together, they offer a solid, traceable provenance trail. By contrast, secondary market catalogs and dealer databases are summaries created after the fact and can reflect interpretation rather than original records; social media posts by previous owners are informal and not verifiable provenance; and press releases about the artist focus on the artist or the work in a general sense, not on the specific ownership history of a piece.