Cleaning color field paintings

I am studying Conservation at the University Of Applied Sciences Of
Cologne in Germany, specializing on paintings and sculptures. For
the final part of my studies I will write my thesis on
"Treatment/Cleaning of Color Field Paintings" taking Morris Louis as
example. To support my studies with practical experience the Museum
Ludwig in Cologne will kindly provide me a partial discolored
painting of Morris Louis for my disposal. The Stripes-painting is
titled "Number 4-32" and dated 1962.

Especially along the unpainted top edge the support of the painting
is discolored but also in other unpainted areas. In less discoloured
areas the tops of the threads are just yellow, but along the top
edge the surfaces of the threads are brown and very brittle as well.

Does anyone have a method to clean partial discolored unpainted
canvases? Is there a method to clean the support without breaking
off the brittle fibres? In case cleaning will remove the brittle
fibres, is there another method to restore the painting? Maybe some
kind of retouching?

Sandra Homuth
Student
Subbelrather Strasse 312
50825 Koln
Germany


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 18:10
                 Distributed: Thursday, August 5, 2004
                       Message Id: cdl-18-10-026
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