{"id":"linked-art/api/abstract-works","relativePath":"linked-art/api/abstract-works.md","title":"Linked Art API: Abstract Works","markdown":"# Linked Art API: Abstract Works\n\n**Last refreshed:** 2026-07-06\n\nSource: [Abstract Works endpoint](https://linked.art/api/1.0/endpoint/abstract_work/), part of Linked Art API 1.0, published under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This is a project summary; the upstream page is authoritative.\n\n## Purpose\n\nThe Abstract Work endpoint describes conceptual works that are not best modeled as physical things, digital files, textual works, or visual works. Examples include an exhibition idea, a performance concept, or a general abstract work that can be instantiated by activities.\n\n## Required Shape\n\nAn Abstract Work record dereferences to one JSON-LD object:\n\n- `@context`: Linked Art context URI, or an array ending with that URI for extensions.\n- `id`: dereferenceable HTTP(S) URI for the work.\n- `type`: `PropositionalObject`.\n\n## Recommended Fields\n\n- `_label`: developer-facing label.\n- `classified_as`: classifications following the `Type` structure.\n- `identified_by`: `Name` and/or `Identifier` structures.\n\n## Optional Fields\n\n- `referred_to_by`: human-readable statements.\n- `equivalent`: external identities.\n- `subject_of`: textual works focused on this abstract work.\n- `representation`: visual works representing it.\n- `member_of`: sets that include it.\n- `attributed_by`: relationship assignment evidence.\n- `dimension`: abstract dimensions.\n- `conceptually_part_of`: broader abstract works.\n- `about`: primary subjects of the work.\n- `subject_to`: rights over the intellectual work.\n- `created_by`: `Creation` event for the abstract work.\n\n## Common Incoming Relationships\n\n- `about` from Textual Work records.\n- `influenced_by` from Activity records, including exhibitions.\n\n## Meta Museum Notes\n\nCurrent record storage can preserve a `PropositionalObject` record through `/api/records/{id}` because record detail responses keep arbitrary Linked Art JSON-LD structure. We do not yet expose a dedicated `/api/abstract-works/{id}` canonical role route. If this endpoint becomes a public contract, add route coverage and role-specific tests rather than treating all abstract works as textual works.\n\n## Test Ideas\n\n- A `PropositionalObject` fixture with `about`, `created_by`, `member_of`, `subject_to`, and `conceptually_part_of` survives record dereference unchanged.\n- A future role route rejects `LinguisticObject` or `VisualItem` when an Abstract Work endpoint expects `PropositionalObject`.\n- Activity projections preserve `influenced_by` references to abstract works without flattening them into plain labels.\n","sections":[{"level":2,"heading":"Purpose","anchor":"purpose"},{"level":2,"heading":"Required Shape","anchor":"required-shape"},{"level":2,"heading":"Recommended Fields","anchor":"recommended-fields"},{"level":2,"heading":"Optional Fields","anchor":"optional-fields"},{"level":2,"heading":"Common Incoming Relationships","anchor":"common-incoming-relationships"},{"level":2,"heading":"Meta Museum Notes","anchor":"meta-museum-notes"},{"level":2,"heading":"Test Ideas","anchor":"test-ideas"}],"html":"<h1 id=\"linked-art-api-abstract-works\">Linked Art API: Abstract Works</h1>\n<p><strong>Last refreshed:</strong> 2026-07-06</p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https://linked.art/api/1.0/endpoint/abstract_work/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"doc-link\">Abstract Works endpoint</a>, part of Linked Art API 1.0, published under <a href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"doc-link\">CC BY 4.0</a>. This is a project summary; the upstream page is authoritative.</p>\n<h2 id=\"purpose\">Purpose</h2>\n<p>The Abstract Work endpoint describes conceptual works that are not best modeled as physical things, digital files, textual works, or visual works. Examples include an exhibition idea, a performance concept, or a general abstract work that can be instantiated by activities.</p>\n<h2 id=\"required-shape\">Required Shape</h2>\n<p>An Abstract Work record dereferences to one JSON-LD object:</p>\n<ul><li>`@context`: Linked Art context URI, or an array ending with that URI for extensions.</li><li>`id`: dereferenceable HTTP(S) URI for the work.</li><li>`type`: `PropositionalObject`.</li></ul>\n<h2 id=\"recommended-fields\">Recommended Fields</h2>\n<ul><li>`_label`: developer-facing label.</li><li>`classified_as`: classifications following the `Type` structure.</li><li>`identified_by`: `Name` and/or `Identifier` structures.</li></ul>\n<h2 id=\"optional-fields\">Optional Fields</h2>\n<ul><li>`referred_to_by`: human-readable statements.</li><li>`equivalent`: external identities.</li><li>`subject_of`: textual works focused on this abstract work.</li><li>`representation`: visual works representing it.</li><li>`member_of`: sets that include it.</li><li>`attributed_by`: relationship assignment evidence.</li><li>`dimension`: abstract dimensions.</li><li>`conceptually_part_of`: broader abstract works.</li><li>`about`: primary subjects of the work.</li><li>`subject_to`: rights over the intellectual work.</li><li>`created_by`: `Creation` event for the abstract work.</li></ul>\n<h2 id=\"common-incoming-relationships\">Common Incoming Relationships</h2>\n<ul><li>`about` from Textual Work records.</li><li>`influenced_by` from Activity records, including exhibitions.</li></ul>\n<h2 id=\"meta-museum-notes\">Meta Museum Notes</h2>\n<p>Current record storage can preserve a `PropositionalObject` record through `/api/records/{id}` because record detail responses keep arbitrary Linked Art JSON-LD structure. We do not yet expose a dedicated `/api/abstract-works/{id}` canonical role route. If this endpoint becomes a public contract, add route coverage and role-specific tests rather than treating all abstract works as textual works.</p>\n<h2 id=\"test-ideas\">Test Ideas</h2>\n<ul><li>A `PropositionalObject` fixture with `about`, `created_by`, `member_of`, `subject_to`, and `conceptually_part_of` survives record dereference unchanged.</li><li>A future role route rejects `LinguisticObject` or `VisualItem` when an Abstract Work endpoint expects `PropositionalObject`.</li><li>Activity projections preserve `influenced_by` references to abstract works without flattening them into plain labels.</li></ul>","updatedAt":"2026-07-06T00:00:00.000Z","checksum":"271315c08d2d1d5311b60a19df05ebfb017cf976676c1bee3462b3ec937acef5","checksumPrefix":"271315c08d2d","anchorCount":7,"lineCount":53,"rawUrl":"/api/docs/content?path=linked-art%2Fapi%2Fabstract-works.md","htmlUrl":"/docs?doc=linked-art%2Fapi%2Fabstract-works.md","apiUrl":"/api/docs/content?path=linked-art%2Fapi%2Fabstract-works.md"}