Transkriptionspraktiken in der Kunstkommunikation : Wie man sprachlich an Bilder anknüpft

The article explores the expressions and purposes of linguistic transcription methods in the realm of art communication, taking a linguistic approach. Within the discourse surrounding artworks, a crucial linguistic practice is description. Description can be understood as a purposeful process of translation from one form of sign to another, grounded in the semiotic principle of transcriptivity, as proposed by Jäger (2010). Descriptions of art consistently draw from prior discourses, utilizing them to guide the conceptualisation of visual experiences within the framework of language. They encompass a wide range, from narrative and argumentative discourse within the institutional context of art history to the quest for meaning during conversations in front of artworks, to the multi-modal appropriation of art within the sphere of social media. After theoretical clarifications, the article gives examples of analysis from different domains of art communication. The first concerns the scholarly description of images in art. The second example analysis is devoted to spontaneous oral descriptions of a self-portrait by Frida Kahlo, which were produced as part of a teaching project, and the third case deals with art communication on Twitter/X.