The Context
Renaissance artists were not the first ones to sign their work, but they certainly popularized the ritual. At that point in history, art production was shifting from the cooperative guild system to that of individual creativity. And so, the creator's signature was how they differentiated their talent from their peers. What's more, the signature protected artists against fraud and forgery. There's a great story about the painter and printmaker who included a warning on the back of his finest painting. Durer added the inscription, be cursed, plunderers and imitators of the work and talent of others. This little piece of art history is a powerful lesson in the area of expression. Because whether or not we call ourselves artists, each of us has the opportunity to put our personal signature on everything that we do.
The Tool
Signateur
SIGNATEUR — To become so identified with your work that nobody could steal it
We can all bring the full force of who we are and what we love to our work. To become auteurs, so to speak, in that we consistently display a creative signature in the work we produce. But not everyone will say yes to this ritual. Some people shy away from acknowledging their authorship, for any number of reasons. Maybe they take the spiritual approach to their art, in which anonymity is critical for humbling arguing only the work of art itself, not its creator. Maybe people refuse to sign the work for aesthetic reasons, as a signature can ruin the composition of a piece. Maybe people feel guilty about being an artist in the first place, and don't want to take up any extra space in the world. Then again, maybe people simply aren't interested in recognition or fame, they just like making things. Fair enough.
The Rest
Kiss famously drew blood from each of the four band members and mixed it with the red ink used to print their first comic book. Was it just a publicity stunt that became an urban legend, or an actual expression of artistic originality? Doesn't matter. It's not that it did happen, it's that fans believed it could happen. Now that's creative. Are you so identified with your work that nobody could steal it, and if they did, people would know it?
The Benefits
Differentiate your talent from your peers
Boost employability through originality
Put your personal signature on everything you do
Bring the full force of who you are to your work