The back of a painting is easy to forget, but it is where a work’s identity and its practical finishing live. Information there helps galleries, buyers and future owners, and good hardware keeps the piece safe on the wall.
What to write on the back
A simple set of details covers most needs:
- Artist name. Your full name or the name you sign with.
- Title. Written as it appears on any label or record.
- Year. The year of completion is enough for most purposes.
- Medium and support. For example, “oil on linen” or “acrylic on panel”.
- Dimensions. Height by width, and depth if useful.
- Contact details. A website or email, particularly if you submit work to shows.
- Inventory number. If you keep a record of your works, a number links the object to your catalog.
- Copyright mark. Some artists add the copyright symbol, the year and their name. This is optional.
- Orientation. An arrow marked “top” helps people hang abstract work the right way up.
Do not feel you need all of these. Title, name, year and medium are a sound minimum.
Where to write
On a stretched canvas, many painters write on the stretcher bar or on the back of the canvas in a spot that is not under strain. Another option is a label or sticker on the backing paper or board. For paintings on panel, write on the back of the panel. Do not press hard with a pen, since marks can show through or damage the canvas.
What to write with
Use an archival, lightfast marker or a soft pencil. Avoid ballpoint pens or ordinary markers that can bleed, fade or press through the canvas. Test on a scrap piece first.
Dust cover and backing
On framed works, a dust cover, usually kraft paper stretched over the back of the frame, keeps out dust and insects and gives a clean finish. Framers often add a label here as well.
For unframed canvases, some artists add a backing board or a dust cover to the stretcher. This is optional, but can protect the back of the canvas from dents and dust.
Hanging hardware
- Wire. A common choice for framed works. Use hardware rated well above the painting’s weight.
- D-rings or similar fittings. Attach to the frame or stretcher bar, and run wire between them.
- Sawtooth hangers. Suitable only for lighter pieces, and less secure for larger works.
- Bumpers. Small pads on the lower corners of the back help the piece sit flush and allow air movement.
Check that screws are the right length so they do not poke through the frame, and follow the manufacturer’s weight rating. If you are unsure, ask a framer or hardware supplier, particularly for heavy work.
Is a varnish or sealing layer for the front or back?
People sometimes ask about the clear coating applied over paintings. That is a varnish, and it goes on the painted surface, not the back. See our guide to finishing a painting for how and when it is used.
Keep a record elsewhere too
Note the same details in a spreadsheet or notebook, along with a photograph of the finished piece. If a label falls off, you still have a record. For showing the work, see how to label a painting for exhibition, and if you are still choosing a title, read how to name your painting.
Works on paper have their own backing needs, discussed in our guides to mounting a watercolor painting and framing a pastel drawing.
Common questions
What should I write on the back of my painting? Name, title, year, medium and size are a good baseline, with contact details and an inventory number as extras.
What is a canvas holder called? Hardware that holds a canvas on the wall is usually a hanger such as a wire with D-rings or a sawtooth hanger. The wooden frame inside the canvas is the stretcher.
What should I hang a painting with? It depends on weight and size. Match the hardware to the work and follow the weight ratings on the packaging.