Case Studies

From a tiny water stain to a massive tear, every restoration involves dozens of technical and aesthetic choices. Those choices also reinterpret the artwork and should therefore be made thoughtfully. Different damages call for different restoration approaches. Some signs of aging, such as cracks or increased transparency of oil paint, should generally be accepted and left untouched. Meanwhile, an aged, darkened varnish is often removed since it distorts the artist's intended color and light balance. Structural changes, such as flaking of paint, tears in canvas, cracks in wooden panels, indicate more serious damage and may call for more urgent conservation treatments to prevent further losses.