Evaluation of the influence of varnish on the color of Picasso’s Woman in Blue

Abstract

Spectral and color characterizations reveal aspects of artworks which support the criteria for restoration and subsequent processes. Usually, the aim is to characterize the different compounds and their state in artworks by means of minimally invasive analyses and to provide information on deteriorated areas. It has been applied spectral analysis and other techniques to study the 2011 varnish-removal restoration of Picasso’s Woman in Blue, painted in 1901. Instrumental analyses indicated that the varnish removed in this restoration was an acrylic resin, unavailable at the time Picasso painted this artwork. This varnish acted as a filter absorbing visible light in a selective way (17–24%), modifying the color appearance of the original paint. The painting was characterized spectrally before and after the restoration, indicating that the average color difference for a set of 140 points regularly distributed throughout the painting was 3.8 Commission Internationale de l´Éclairage 1976 L*a*b* units. Specifically, on the average, the restoration substantially increased lightness, slightly decreased chroma, and caused a shift toward less yellow hues. Color changes in two different regions of the painting indicated hue-shifts in different directions. Current measurements will be useful in general conservation processes as a reference to determine future degradation.

Keywords:

• Colorimetry
• paint color-measuring
• Picasso
• restoration
• spectral characterization

Acknowledgments

This work has been performed under the agreement between the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Support from research project FIS2016-80983P (Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the national government of Spain and European Regional Development Fund) is acknowledged. We would like to thank Prof. Paola Belloni and Prof. Javier Alda for their help and support.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.