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Ethics & Confidentiality

Principles of Responsible Research and Engagement

At the Belgian Art Institute, we believe that the study, conservation, and interpretation of artworks is not only an academic or technical endeavor — it is an ethical responsibility. Every engagement with a work of art carries implications for legacy, ownership, memory, and trust.

Our Institute operates at the intersection of cultural sensitivity and scholarly rigor. Whether working with private collections, sensitive provenance records, or unpublished archival material, we adhere to a framework grounded in confidentiality, professional integrity, and accountability.

1. Confidentiality as Ethical Commitment

Many of the artworks studied by the Institute are held in private collections or entrusted to us through discrete networks of collectors, foundations, and heirs. In these cases, discretion is not a courtesy — it is a core condition of trust.

We are committed to protecting the privacy of individuals and families who give us access to works that are not publicly known. Where confidentiality agreements are in place, we refrain from publishing names, locations, or identifying details without explicit written consent.

In cases where images cannot be shared publicly, we clearly indicate this with standard phrasing, such as:

  • Image not available for public display at the request of the owner.
  • Private collection, identity withheld.

We view such statements not as limitations, but as part of a respectful and professional approach to the complexity of ownership, legacy, and discretion in the art world.

2. Standards of Ethical Research

All research conducted by the Belgian Art Institute — whether technical, historical, or interpretive — is grounded in ethical principles and scholarly transparency. This includes:

Methodological transparency

All scientific processes (e.g., radiocarbon dating, pigment analysis, IR reflectography) are performed in partnership with accredited institutions. Method notes are preserved in our internal archive.

Attribution integrity

We avoid absolute claims where evidence is inconclusive. Attribution is presented along a calibrated spectrum ("studio of", "circle of", "attributed to") and reviewed across disciplines with input from independent experts.

Conservation ethics

We follow internationally accepted standards (ICOM-CC, European Network for Conservation-Restoration), including principles of reversibility, minimal intervention, and traceable documentation.

Provenance sensitivity

For works with uncertain or contested provenance — especially in cases of displacement due to war or coercion — we conduct rigorous archival research and consult restitution specialists where appropriate.

3. Responsible Communication

We recognize that language and imagery used in public-facing and scholarly communication carry institutional weight. Therefore:

  • All publications (digital and print) are reviewed for compliance with legal, scholarly, and ethical standards.
  • We avoid sensationalism, premature attribution, or speculative value claims.
  • We strive to balance clarity and scholarly nuance, particularly in materials intended for public engagement.

When we present research or discoveries, we situate them within broader historical and cultural narratives — not simply as singular events, but as contributions to the evolving understanding of art, time, and memory.

4. Collaboration and Consent

Ethical research is, by its nature, collaborative. Our work is often conducted alongside professionals from museums, universities, conservation labs, auction houses, and private collections.

All such collaborations are guided by the following commitments:

  • All such collaborations are guided by mutual respect, shared objectives, and informed consent.
  • When we draw on external expertise — whether scientific, academic, or curatorial — we attribute credit fully and invite co-authorship or formal acknowledgment where appropriate.
  • We do not appropriate discoveries. We amplify them.

5. Our Commitment to the Future

Ethics in art historical research is not a static code — it is a living process. As new technologies and cultural responsibilities emerge, the Belgian Art Institute commits to revisiting and refining its protocols.

We believe that discretion and transparency are not opposites, but complementary principles. It is through their balance that we hope to serve the academic community, private collectors, and the broader public with integrity — and to earn the trust required to preserve cultural heritage with dignity and care.