Technology and conservation of the visual arts
Question
What are artworks made of?
→ How do materials get meaning??
o Think back at beeldende kunsten: rich colours, fine drapery, etc
→ Which tools are used to analyse the different layers, materials, techniques, conservation, etc
How are artworks made?
→ Which processes need to be done?
o Different layers of making: paper making – paint making – painting – framing
→ What techniques are used to examine processes?
Who makes the artworks?
→ Which different individuals are part of the artmaking process?
o How is labour divided between different social classes, workers, etc
o What is their status by being ‘craftsmen’?
Where and when?
→ Spaces and routes of creation ?
o Time is a sensitive factor!
o To which social group does the labours belong?
→ Time to make an artwork?
1
, MODE OF DISPLAY = WAY OF PRESERVING !!!!
MOUNTS
o Pierre-Jean Mariette
o Pioneer in this way of preservation
o Early 17th cent France, later to England and Holland, last to Italy
o = Mounting the drawing onto a thick piece of cardboard
+ No tearing, folding; much less damage possible!
+ Easy storing
+ Allow decoration to enhance its beauty, golden edges
o Use of thin piece of cardboard, thick paper are still prone to tears, thick cardboard is
much better! Limits tearing significantly!
o ! once its mounted it’s very difficult to remove
Possible partial mounting, ! could create tension or buckling which could
result in tearing
Solid mounting done with animal glue could yellow the paper through the
acids present in the glue
o Mounting on canvas
+ Makes the drawing look more like a painting! Emulates the painting!
+ Can be rolled up and easily stored
- Very sensitive to climate
Humidity! Retracks when humid and crimples when dried, risk of tearing
again!
- Prone to yellowing because of animal glue
- Attracts insect manifestation
o Mounting on wood
+ Very sturdy and solid
+ The lignin in wood generates acidity
+ Wood is very rigid
- Removing a drawing from wood mount is basically impossible
o Modern technique = mat = passe-partout
o = Book-like structure with a window in front to show the drawing
These windows are slightly bevelled to allow the paper to not touch the
glass and therefore not create tension
• The material of the board is chosen by a variety of elements
o Storage
o Format of the drawing
o Financial needs in disposal
o Times of use, different for frequent used
The drawing is only taped to one edge of the paper, so that it can still be
looked at both sides, front and back, which is very valuable for research
13
Question
What are artworks made of?
→ How do materials get meaning??
o Think back at beeldende kunsten: rich colours, fine drapery, etc
→ Which tools are used to analyse the different layers, materials, techniques, conservation, etc
How are artworks made?
→ Which processes need to be done?
o Different layers of making: paper making – paint making – painting – framing
→ What techniques are used to examine processes?
Who makes the artworks?
→ Which different individuals are part of the artmaking process?
o How is labour divided between different social classes, workers, etc
o What is their status by being ‘craftsmen’?
Where and when?
→ Spaces and routes of creation ?
o Time is a sensitive factor!
o To which social group does the labours belong?
→ Time to make an artwork?
1
, MODE OF DISPLAY = WAY OF PRESERVING !!!!
MOUNTS
o Pierre-Jean Mariette
o Pioneer in this way of preservation
o Early 17th cent France, later to England and Holland, last to Italy
o = Mounting the drawing onto a thick piece of cardboard
+ No tearing, folding; much less damage possible!
+ Easy storing
+ Allow decoration to enhance its beauty, golden edges
o Use of thin piece of cardboard, thick paper are still prone to tears, thick cardboard is
much better! Limits tearing significantly!
o ! once its mounted it’s very difficult to remove
Possible partial mounting, ! could create tension or buckling which could
result in tearing
Solid mounting done with animal glue could yellow the paper through the
acids present in the glue
o Mounting on canvas
+ Makes the drawing look more like a painting! Emulates the painting!
+ Can be rolled up and easily stored
- Very sensitive to climate
Humidity! Retracks when humid and crimples when dried, risk of tearing
again!
- Prone to yellowing because of animal glue
- Attracts insect manifestation
o Mounting on wood
+ Very sturdy and solid
+ The lignin in wood generates acidity
+ Wood is very rigid
- Removing a drawing from wood mount is basically impossible
o Modern technique = mat = passe-partout
o = Book-like structure with a window in front to show the drawing
These windows are slightly bevelled to allow the paper to not touch the
glass and therefore not create tension
• The material of the board is chosen by a variety of elements
o Storage
o Format of the drawing
o Financial needs in disposal
o Times of use, different for frequent used
The drawing is only taped to one edge of the paper, so that it can still be
looked at both sides, front and back, which is very valuable for research
13
