What is provenance? It’s the origin and chain of custody behind objects, ideas, and data. This guide traces its roots (Latin provenire), shows how provenance builds trust in art, archives, supply chains, law, blockchain, and AI, and explains why clear lineage boosts authenticity, accountability, and value.

From Plato’s ideals to Duchamp’s urinal and today’s AI image generators, every new medium has redrawn art’s borders. This sweeping feature unpacks 2,500 years of creative upheaval—revealing why intention, interpretation, and impact matter more than the tool itself, and why the canvas of human expression keeps expanding.