Art Forgery

Intro and Lab

Claude Monet’s Water Lilies(1840-1926)Impressionists Short loose brush strokes Different colors allowing eyes to mix the

colors

Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers(1853 – 1890)Post Impressionists Loose brush strokes Texture Intense Color

Jackson Pollock’s Paint Drippings(1912-1956)

Abstract Expressionist Sweeping brush strokes Dripped paints Non objectives Interwoven color wildly on

canvas

Electromagnetic RadiationRays of ultraviolet light, with a wavelength of

about 350nm, will reveal touch ups of new paint which fluoresces in deep blue violet tones compared to the old surface which shines a light purple where the varnish remains and no retouching has occurred.

Microscopic Examination Can reveal an art forgery Machine woven canvas has been available

only since about 1850. Since then, machine woven, canvases commercially primed have been used by artists.

Not always exact. Forgers find ways around this.

Chemical Analysis Historical evidence that dates the use of

certain paint pigments is available. Midieval times – Carbon, gold, Silver, tin,

mercury, and sulfur were sometimes used as pigments in their pure state.

Middle Ages – Iron oxides, copper carbonates were used in color

Modern Age – lead compounds have been banned from all paint materials

The Lab

Assume That….1. All three artists used paints containing lead

ions. (These paints have been banned in recent years)

2. All three artists used unmixed or layered paints rather than highly mixed colors.

3. Modern paints fluoresce under ultraviolet light

Three Methods Look at three pieces of artwork Ultraviolet Light Test Chemical Analysis Microscopic Examination