completed treatment

The ensemble of panels by Pemmelaar after treatment in 2024.

  • title Elementen van Huizen

    artist Lode Pemmelaar

    date 1978-80

    material acrylic (?) on canvas on plywood

    dimensions 90 x 50 x 1,5 cm

    owner Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands

  • structurally sound and stable

    surface dirt

    scuff marks

    scratches

    paint loss

    coffee stains

    shoe print

  • goal to enhance the visual appeal by mitigating disruptions within the composition and restoring the vibrancy of colours

    1. surface dirt removal

    The surface dirt and grime obscure its original colours, diminishing its visual impact. Cleaning the surface with dry and aqueous methods removes these layers of dirt, restoring its intended appearance. Additionally, accumulated dirt can attract moisture, and pollutants, leading to accelerated deterioration of the painting over time.

    2. scuff mark removal

    The marks, consisting of the same paint used to paint the panels and caused by the panels rubbing against each other during storage or transport, will be removed using a solvent that is as non-polar as possible to avoid dissolving the underlying varnish.

    3. filling

    To establish a uniform surface for subsequent retouching, it is essential to address the losses by filling them.

    4. retouching

    The fills will be retouched to restore unity in both colour and composition.

    5. reconstruction of the missing panels

    Two out of the fourteen panels are currently lost or missing. It is under consideration to create reconstructions of these two missing panels, using archival images as references, to ensure that the ensemble can be displayed or exhibited as originally intended by the artist.

    Thorough documentation of both the technical examination findings and the treatment outcomes will be meticulously carried out.

observed phenomena

  • VERO wooden building blocks 1970s

    VERO wooden building blocks 1970s

  • Wooden building blocks from VERO 1970s

    Wooden building blocks from VERO 1970s

    The building blocks are assembled like Elementen van Huizen.

  • Panel J before treatment

    Panel J before treatment

  • Panel J after treatment

    Panel J after treatment

  • tape residue

    tape residue

    Residue from painter’s tape, used by the artist in the making process, was found on several panels.

  • paint loss

    paint loss

  • stain

    stain

  • scuff marks

    scuff marks

treatment

Surface dirt removal

Some aqueous cleaning agents may react with acidic or alkaline components present on the surface, leading to unwanted chemical reactions and potential damage to the paint layers. Measuring the pH of the surface helps anticipate and mitigate these risks by selecting a cleaning solution with a pH compatible with the surface.

After conducting several tests, the surface dirt was removed with an aqueous solution consisting of EDTA in distilled water with a pH of 5.8. EDTA is valued as a cleaning agent in conservation due to its chelating properties, mildness, versatility, pH buffering capabilities, and water solubility.

Surface dirt removed from panel A. VIS.

Scuff mark removal

The scuff mark was removed through the application of a mixture comprised of isopropanol and iso-octane (1:9), gently dabbed with a cotton swab. Subsequently, any residual paint from the scuff mark was removed via mechanical action, using a scalpel under microscopic observation.

Microscopic image of panel A in visible light. Left: before scuff mark removal, right: after scuff mark removal.