This thesis examines the nature of art held by archives, known collectively as “documentary art.” While the category exists firmly across Canada, exactly what is meant by documentary art has not been comprehensively discussed. In this thesis, both theoretical and practical definitions and their application to the collections will be explored. This will be done by examining three broad dimensions: the very limited theoretical writing that tries to define art in archives; the much broader base of art theory over the past centuries as well as writings about art in general within the Canadian context; and the actual historical evolution, current practices, and personal ideas of archivists who work with art, and comparing these to the ideas and understanding about documentary art held by professionals in the art gallery world.