Art + Work | Washing a discolored print in a full immersion bath

Watch as Paper Conservator Soko Furuhata cleans a print by giving it a full immersion bath.
Read more about this process and how common water-based treatments are in paper conservation: unframed.lacma.org/2021/09/29...
Art + Work is an observational documentary showing the care that LACMA conservators put into preserving artworks in our collection. Working closely with LACMA’s Conservation Center, this series highlights the wide range of techniques and tools used by our skilled conservators.
Learn more about LACMA’s Conservation Center: www.lacma.org/learn/conservation
*Viewing with headphones is recommended*
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Located on the Pacific Rim, LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection of nearly 140,000 objects that illuminate 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe. Committed to showcasing a multitude of art histories, LACMA exhibits and interprets works of art from new and unexpected points of view that are informed by the region’s rich cultural heritage and diverse population. LACMA’s spirit of experimentation is reflected in its work with artists, technologists, and thought leaders as well as in its regional, national, and global partnerships to share collections and programs, create pioneering initiatives, and engage new audiences.
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[@Vimby233]

It would have been good to have seen the before and after condition. Very interesting even so.

[@holliswebb1800]

thank you. I am in the process of restoring my grandfathers portraits. He was Ernest Walter Histed, Sr. His works are from late 1800'2 to 1920's. Foxing on the paper. he used platinum glass negatives

[@acommenter5184]

Thanks for sharing the basic treatment process here.
- I suppose that the sodium citrate solution varies according to the specific piece being treated, but what would be a typical concentration used?
- It would be very informative to have at least a brief description of how the artwork is handled after the immersion bath and removal of the cleaning solution, to ensure
proper drying, minimize warping and waves, etc.

[@ArmadaAnimales]

Superb!

[@SteinRolf]

This is a great video. And I am very thankful for the effort that the conservator took in showing how to clean that beautiful engraving. One question, however, remains in my view. What would be the best way for drying the sheet? It should probably dry slowly. On what kind of material should it lay for drying, may be linnen? Should it be pressed in that process?

[@BrazilAdventure]

I'd like to know that too. Laying on a horizontal piece of stretched (framed) linen canvas is the way to go, but I've only seen it when the poster is glued to it so I don't know how easily peeled off the linen might be after drying. As for pressing, careful draping and gravity will do most of the work, but I'd probably put an acetate sheet over it and use a roller to make sure any kinks are ironed out. I'm told a standard movie poster will dry in 24-48 hours.
You can see in the video that the bottom is wavy but like you say it feels like that's not the "walk away" stage of the process.

[@Tony-InLosAngeles]

Excellent

[@lacma]

Glad you liked it! Would you like to see more videos like this?

[@Tony-InLosAngeles]

@@lacma sure would this was very interesting! I’ve watched a multiple part oil painting restoration before. 😃

[@UPandUNDER16]

If a paper has an oil stain, do you need to add some solvent to the water?