The difference between a creative work (or, in general, a cultural object), and a file that shows this work or object

What is a digital surrogate?

A digital surrogate, or faithful reproduction, of a creative work or object, is a form of 'direct digitization' of that work/object that is meant to show it truthfully and faithfully. Examples of digital surrogates include:

• A photograph or scan of a painting that is produced to faithfully show the painting 'as is', without deformations, shadows, lighting, etc.
• A 3D scan of a sculpture, airplane, tool...
• A scan of a drawing or print
• A scan of a book
• A video file that represents a fully digitized film

This difference has legal implications! In copyright law of many countries around the world (including European countries), it is illegal to claim copyright over the exact digital reproduction of a creative work that is in the public domain. But as soon as someone takes a photograph of a work from a certain distance/angle, and with a specific point of view, then there is some creativity involved; then the photographer can claim copyright.

• 
  A digital surrogate (faithful digital representation) of the Mona Lisa (Q12418). No frame is shown. The image has no distortion or edges.
• 
  A photograph (NOT a digital surrogate) of the Mona Lisa (Q12418). It is taken from an angle, the frame is visible and the painting's image is distorted.
• 
  A photograph (NOT a digital surrogate) of the Mona Lisa (Q12418) from a distance, showing the room in which it is displayed. Here, the photographer certainly made a conscious (creative) decision about the point of view.

When should works and objects have a Wikidata item?

• When the work or object can be considered notable (which is more often than expected)! A work or object very often fits Wikidata's general notability criteria, including the criterium that the "entity must be notable, in the sense that it can be described using serious and publicly available references". In general, it is widely advisable to create a Wikidata item for a painting, a sculpture, a permanent public artwork, or a notable object that has been described in independent sources. Make sure to search Wikidata before creating a new Wikidata item though; the work or object may have an item already!
• If a work or object has more than one image or other file on Wikimedia Commons, that is often also a good indication that a Wikidata item would be useful. The different files can then point to this one Wikidata item.
• That said, it can be convenient (e.g. when performing batch uploads) to only describe the work or object with structured data on Wikimedia Commons.

You can find data modeling guidelines for visual artworks on Wikidata at https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:WikiProject_Visual_arts/Item_structure (this page is work in progress).

Should I also create a Wikidata item for the photograph / image / file that shows the work or object?

In 99.99% of cases: no. You will add metadata about the image here on Wikimedia Commons, and metadata about the artwork either to its Wikidata item, or here on Wikimedia Commons too.

Faithful representation ('digital surrogate') of an artwork; the artwork is notable and has a Wikidata item

File (click to explore the example)	Structured data	Wikitext
	This box: v • d • e source of file file available on the internet edit described at URL https://www.mauritshuis.nl/nl-nl/verdiep/de-collectie/kunstwerken/stilleven-met-kazen-amandelen-en-krakelingen-1203/ operator Mauritshuis 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e depicts Still Life with Cheeses, Almonds and Pretzels edit 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e digital representation of Still Life with Cheeses, Almonds and Pretzels edit 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e main subject Still Life with Cheeses, Almonds and Pretzels edit 0 references add reference add value	== {{int:filedesc}} == {{Artwork}} =={{int:license-header}}== {{PD-Art|PD-old-auto-expired|deathyear=1657}} [[Category:Flemish paintings in the Mauritshuis]] [[Category:Clara Peeters]]
	This box: v • d • e source of file file available on the internet edit described at URL https://www.khm.at/objektdb/detail/73/ operator Kunsthistorisches Museum 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e depicts The allegory of Fire edit 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e digital representation of The allegory of Fire edit 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e main subject The allegory of Fire edit 0 references add reference add value	== {{int:filedesc}} == {{Artwork}} =={{int:license-header}}== {{PD-Art|PD-old-auto-expired|deathyear=1593}} [[Category:Fire (Arcimboldo, 1566)]]
	This box: v • d • e source of file file available on the internet edit described at URL https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-venus-of-willendorf-at-the-naturhistorisches-museum-vienna-austria-11455 operator MyMiniFactory 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e depicts Venus of Willendorf edit 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e digital representation of Venus of Willendorf edit 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e main subject Venus of Willendorf edit 0 references add reference add value	=={{int:filedesc}}== {{Art photo}} =={{Assessment}}== {{Media of the day|2021|9|23}} {{FM promoted|featured=1}} =={{int:license-header}}== {{self|cc-by-sa-4.0}} {{3dpatent|ownwork}} [[Category:Venus of Willendorf]] [[Category:STL files from Scan the World]] [[Category:STL files of sculptures]] [[Category:Featured media nominated by Andrew J.Kurbiko]] [[Category:Featured media by Jonathanbeck]]

• More examples; click on the image and/or file name to inspect the structured data and Wikitext of each example.
• 
  File:Virgin_of_Vladimir.jpg
• 
  File:4_Radha_(Bani_Thani),_Kishangarh,_ca._1750,_National_Museum_New_Delhi.jpg
• 
  File:Paul_Klee_~_Angelus_Novus_~_1920.jpg
• File:Sanae_Yamamoto-_Momotaro,_Japan's_No.1_(1928).ogv
• 
  File:Anonymous_-_Krishna_and_Rukmini_in_a_Garden_Pavilion_-_1960.159_-_Arthur_M._Sackler_Museum.jpg

Photograph of an artwork that is not a 'digital surrogate' of the work; the artwork has a Wikidata item

File (click to explore the example)	Structured data	Wikitext
	This box: v • d • e source of file original creation by uploader edit 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e creator some value edit Wikimedia username Anagoria URL https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Anagoria 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e inception 24 December 2013 edit 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e depicts Aztec sun stone edit 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e main subject Aztec sun stone edit 0 references add reference add value	== {{int:filedesc}} == {{Art Photo}} == {{int:license-header}} == {{self|GFDL|cc-by-3.0}} [[Category:Aztec sun stone]] [[Category:Archaeological objects made from basalt]] [[Category:Basalt sculptures]] [[Category:Archaeology in Mexico]] [[Category:Calendars]] [[Category:Files by User:anagoria]]
	This box: v • d • e source of file file available on the internet edit described at URL https://id.erfgoed.net/afbeeldingen/202339 operator Flanders Heritage Agency 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e creator Flanders Heritage Agency edit object of statement has role photographer 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e inception 1990 edit 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e depicts Ambiorix edit 0 references add reference add value This box: v • d • e main subject Ambiorix edit 0 references add reference add value	=={{int:filedesc}}== {{Art photo}} {{Onroerend erfgoed|200309}} =={{int:license-header}}== {{Cc-by-4.0}} [[Category:Statue of Ambiorix in Tongeren]]

• More examples; click on the image and/or file name to inspect the structured data and Wikitext of each example.
• 
  File:Venus_de_Brassempouy.jpg
• 
  File:Figurines_of_women_carrying_pottery_vessels.jpg
• 
  File:Jade_cabbage_closeup.jpg
• 
  File:Chrysanthemums_by_Shinsei-Ethno_BHM_305-P6141091-gradient.jpg
• 
  File:1._Tamanian_St_-_Kiwi_by_Peter_Woytuk_.jpg
• 
  File:Endlose_Treppe_bei_KPMG_in_München..jpg