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Absztrakt

Agar gel applications in painting conservation
The afterlife of an MA thesis

In recent decades, gel technology has become invaluable in restoration. Since the late 1980s, gels have been successfully employed in art conservation to regulate the interaction between liquid cleaning agents and surfaces. The risks associated with the direct application of pure organic solvents or aqueous solutions – such as the unintended swelling of the binding media and diffusion into underlying layers – are significantly mitigated when these liquids are applied in gel form.
The thesis titled Using Polysaccharide Rigid Gels for the Cleaning and Varnish Removal Treatment of Paintings, completed during the 2018/2019 academic year at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts’ Conservation Department, primarily focuses on agar gels. This research evaluates the efficacy of agar as a conservation tool, highlighting its environmental benefits and the reduced exposure to volatile compounds during work. After graduation, the author has continued to employ agar gels, gaining extensive experience in treating oil and acrylic paint films on canvas. Agar gels have consistently proven to be an effective, safe, and eco-friendly solution in numerous cases.
In certain scenarios, agar gels exhibit a poulticing effect, absorbing some of the solubilised or softened materials. This process can be complemented with further cleaning using cotton swabs and milder solvents, if necessary. The use of gels allows for safer execution of structural interventions, such as the removal of film-forming materials or adhesives, and cleaning procedures. Gels are particularly beneficial for cleaning surfaces sensitive to abrasion.
This paper presents three case studies showcasing different aqueous cleaning systems based on agar gels, demonstrating the advantages cited in literature. It also explores the potential of these systems in removing aged varnish layers from oil paint surfaces when combined with organic solvents. However, it is essential to acknowledge the uniqueness of each case, necessitating individual evaluation. The choice of gel and cleaning procedure depends on the fragility of the surface and the cohesion between the support and paint layers. Utilising semi-solid or preformed rigid gels allows for controlled, monitored, and, if necessary, halted progress.