Why Do Artists Sign Their Paintings?

Imagine you draw a beautiful picture of a dragon. You want everyone to know that you made it, not your little brother who might claim it later! So you scribble your name on the corner. This is called signing.

Long ago, people didn't care much about signatures. If Michelangelo painted something, it was assumed to be his because he was famous. But as more people started painting, they needed a way to prove their work was real and valuable.

Some artists sign with big, fancy letters that look like art themselves. Others use tiny initials or special symbols called monograms. You might see the signature hidden in a bush or painted on a rock. The most important part is that it looks like the artist did it while they were still alive.