Signature artwork

In art, signature artwork refers to works by popular and well-established artists that are easily recognized as theirs because of unique characteristics in style, medium, or subject matter. A parallel to the recognition of a person's signature on a work is drawn indicating that the work itself may serve the same purpose to declare the creator because of unique characteristics. The existence of a body of works that demonstrate the characteristics identified as a signature artwork is necessary for the application of the term, and art critics focus upon the development of such "styles" as important for determining the significance of an artist's work. Signature artwork also refers to distinctive works that may be easily recognized without having to ascertain the school of art, the cultural identity of a style, or the historical period during which a work was created.

Among painters the melting landscapes of Salvador Dalí and the dripped paintings of Jackson Pollock serve as signature artworks of those artists. Consistency is highly valued among professional painters, for example, the American Watercolor Society will not admit a painter who has not demonstrated an established "style" that remains consistent for a period of time, but most painters follow a personal path exploring their chosen medium that has a similar result without being required for membership in a professional organization.

Among sculptors, Alexander Calder used colors distinctively and one of his mobiles is as readily identified as his work as is a stegosaurus by Jim Gary. These often are referred to as signature artworks for them.

Schools of art bear similar characteristics that enable easy recognition, such as the Impressionists and they may be described as signature artworks of the school.

Similar uses of exist in many fields of the arts and sciences to identify distinctive characteristics as well as in retailing of merchandise.

...
Wikipedia