Abstract
The painting C’est grace à nous by Asger Jorn shows unusually soft black paint with substantial delamination. To provide insight into the condition and conservation issues, samples were analysed using Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Direct temperature Mass Spectrometry (DTMS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The results show that the oil medium of the black paint layer in contact with the zinc containing ground has contributed to the development of zinc fatty acid salts (zinc soaps). Examination of the painting confirmed that the paint delamination was mainly found where the black paint was unusually soft. The implications for delamination and considerations for a possible consolidation treatment of C’est grace à nous are discussed in the context of the analytical results.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Boon J, Hoogland F and Keune K (2007) Chemical Processes in Aged Oil Paints affecting Metal soap Migration and Aggregation. In: AIC paintings specialty group postprints: papers pres. at the 34th annual meeting of the AIC of Historic & Artistic Works providence, Rhode Island, June 16–19, 2006 /ed. H. Mar Parkin, AIC. Pp. 16–23
Boon J and Hoogland F (2014) Investigating Fluidizing Dripping Pink Commercial Paint on Van Hemert’s Seven-Series Works from 1990–1995. In: Issues in Contemporary Oil Paints. Proceedings from the Symposium, 28 and 29 March 2013. eds. van den Berg KJ, Burnstock A, de Tagle A, de Keijzer M, Heydenreich G, Krueger J and Learner T. Amersfoort: Springer. Pp. 227–246
Boon J, Keune K and Zucker J (2005) Imaging analytical studies of lead soaps aggregating in preprimed canvas used by the Hudson River School painter F.E. Church. In: Microscopy and Microanalysis vol. 11 (Supplement 2). Pp. 444–445
Bronken I (2009) Undersøkelse og dokumentasjon av Composition, 1952, Jean-Paul Riopelle. Master thesis, University of Oslo
Bronken I (unpublished, due 2021) Categorization of soft and dripping paint. Examination of the condition issues for 25 paintings dated between 1946 and 1971 with soft, exuding and dripping oil paint. PhD thesis, University of Amsterdam
Bronken I and Boon J (2014) Hard dry paint, softening tacky paint, and exuding drips on Composition 1952. In: Issues in Contemporary Oil Paints. Proceedings from the Symposium, 28 and 29 March 2013. eds. van den Berg KJ, Burnstock A, de Tagle A, de Keijzer M, Heydenreich G, Krueger J and Learner T. Amersfoort: Springer. Pp. 247–62
Bronken IAT and Boon JJ (2015) Conservation challenges and physical changes in Composition (1952) by Jean-Paul Riopelle: a case study. In: Public Paintings by Edvard Munch and his Contemporaries: Change and Conservation Challenges, ed. Frøysaker T, Streeton NLW, Kutzke H, Hanssen-Bauer F, Topalova-Casadiego B. London: Archetype publications. Pp 334–348
Corbeil M-C, Helwig K, Poulin J (2011) Jean Paul Riopelle: the artist’s materials. Getty Publications, Los Angeles
Helou-de la Grandière P, Le Hô A-S and Mirambet F (2008) Delaminating paint films at the end of 1950s: a case study on Pierre Soulages. In: Preparation for Painting. The artist’s choice and its Consequences. London: Archetype publications. Pp. 156–162.
Helwig K, Poulin J, Corbeil M-C, Moffatt E and Duguay D (2014) Conservation Issues in Several Twentieth-century Canadian Oil Paintings: The Role of Zinc Carboxylate Reaction Products. In: Issues in Contemporary Oil Paints. Proceedings from the Symposium, 28 and 29 March 2013. eds. van den Berg KJ, Burnstock A, de Tagle A, de Keijzer M, Heydenreich G, Krueger J and Learner T. Amersfoort: Springer. Pp. 167–184
Hermans JJ (2017) Metal soaps in oil paint, structure mechanisms and dynamics. PhD Thesis University of Amsterdam
Maines CA, Rogala D, Lake S, Mecklenburg M (2011) Deterioration in Abstract Expressionist Paintings: Analysis of Zinc Oxide Paint Layers in Works from the Collection of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution. In: Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings. Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology IX. Volume 1319
Moffatt EA and Miller D (1994) Spectroscopic and Chromatographic Analysis of Selected Paintings from the Parisian Periode of Paul-Émil Bourdas. In: Journal of the International Institute for Conservation-Canadian Group, vol. 19, 1994. Pp 3–13
Osmond G (2014) Zinc oxide-centered deterioration of modern artists’ oil paint and implications for the conservation of twentieth century paintings. PhD thesis, University of Queensland
ÒMalley M and Moffatt EA (2001) Paul-Émile Bourdas: the blacks and whites of the later paintings (1955–1960). In: Deterioration of Artists’ Paints: Effects and Analysis. London: UKIC and British Museum. Pp 84–87
Pfandlbauer S (1993) Leinöl in der modernen, zeitgenössischen Malerei. Oberflächenphänomene und Schadensbilder. Diplomarbeit. Fachhochschule Köln
Rogala D, Lake S, Maines C, Mecklenburg M (2010) Condition problems related to zinc oxide underlayers: examination of selected abstract expressionist paintings from the collection of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture garden, Smithsonian institution. In: Journal of the American Institute for Conservation 49, volume 2 winter/fall. Pp: 96–113
Van der Weerd J, Geldof M, Struik van der Loeff L, Heeren RMA and Boon J (2004) Zinc soap aggregate formation in ‘falling leaves’ (Les Alyscamps)’ by Vincent van Gogh. In: Z. Kunsttechnol. Konserv. 17. Pp. 407–416
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bronken, I.A.T., Boon, J.J., Steindal, C.C. (2019). Examination of Paint Delamination in C’est grace à nous by Asger Jorn. In: van den Berg, K., et al. Conservation of Modern Oil Paintings. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19254-9_20
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19254-9_20
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-19253-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-19254-9
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)