The practice of looking in paper conservation

Abstract

Summary This essay examines the way in which we look at paper artefacts during the process of conservation. Classification of artefacts as art and non-art determines many treatment choices. An artefact to be displayed in an art museum may receive treatment to make its damage less noticeable, while an artefact to be used in an archives may merely be stabilized for preservation. Artefacts of either category are increasingly appreciated for their intrinsic value. In some cases, this leads us to restore the visual homogeneity of a damaged artefact, in other cases to accept damage as an important aspect of an artefact's appearance. Intrinsic value can thus be associated with both structural as well as aesthetic considerations. A drawing previously damaged by restoration is analysed, differentiating between the way in which past restorations and modem conservation treatment can alter an artwork's appearance.