Eyeing the past: synchrotron µ-XANES and XRF imaging of tarnish distribution on 19th century daguerreotypes

Kozachuk, M. S.; Sham, Tsun‐Kong; Martin, Ronald R.; Nelson, Andrew J.; Coulthard, I.

doi:10.1107/s1600577519006313

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…However, in the present case, a choice was made in favor of non-invasive analysis to preserve the physical integrity of the photographic prints. Gold (Au) was also present in the majority of the photographs analyzed (11,18,23,31,39,48,56,93,94,97,108, and 118) ( Fig. 2), indicating the use of a gold chloride toner.…”

Section: Preliminary Photographs: Printed In the Arctic?mentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Most technical studies of 19th-century photographic media to date focus on daguerreotypes and their degradation [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Attention to other 19th-century photographic processes, however, has been rising thanks to the availability of cutting-edge methods of non-invasive instrumental analysis, although these studies mostly aim to characterize photographic supports, materials, and techniques used by a single photographer or for a specific photographic category [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Preliminary photographs and improved positives: discovering the New York Public Library’s Arctic Exploration album

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, original photographs were sent to publishers so that they could be reproduced in print. The photographs often needed to be reworked with overpainting and masking, and such modifications were especially necessary for low-contrast photographs to be reproduced as a letterpress halftone. As altered objects, many of these marked-up photographs were simply discarded after use. An album at The New York Public Library, however, contains 157 such photographs, all relating to the Jackson–Harmsworth expedition to Franz Josef Land, from 1894 to 1897. Received as gifts from publishers, the photographs are heavily retouched with overpainting and masking, as well as drawn and collaged elements. The intense level of overpainting on many of the photographs, but not on others, raised questions about their production and alteration. Jackson’s accounts attested to his practice of developing and printing photographs on site, testing different materials and techniques—including platino-bromide and silver-gelatin papers—to overcome the harsh environmental conditions. In this context, sixteen photographs from the album were analyzed through a combination of non-invasive and micro-invasive techniques, including X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), Raman and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). This analytical campaign aimed to evaluate the possible residual presence of silver halides in any of the preliminary and improved photographs. The detection of these compounds would be one of several factors supporting a hypothesis that some of the photographs in the album were indeed printed on site, in the Arctic, and, as a result, may have been impacted by the extreme environment. Additional goals of the study included the evaluation of the extent of retouching, providing a full characterization of the pigments and dyes used in overpainted prints, and comparing the results with contemporaneous photographic publications that indicate which coloring materials were available at the time. Further analyses shed light on the organic components present in the binders and photographic emulsions. This research has increased our knowledge of photographic processes undertaken in a hostile environment such as the Arctic, and shed light on the technical aspects of photographically illustrating books during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

show abstract

Section: Preliminary Photographs: Printed In the Arctic?mentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary photographs and improved positives: discovering the New York Public Library’s Arctic Exploration album

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Por su importancia como objetos culturales, pues se trata de los primeros ejemplares en inmortalizar y documentar la realidad que han perdurado hasta nuestros días, los daguerrotipos han sido ampliamente revisados desde múltiples perspectivas. Así, las investigaciones en torno a estas primeras fotografías han abarcado desde su historia, materialidad técnica y conservación hasta los últimos estudios de carácter científico y analítico que están sirviendo para conocer estos objetos con una mayor profundidad y para mejorar sus métodos de conservación y restauración (Kozachuk et al 2019;Ravines et al 2014;Wei, Gerritsen y Waldthausen 2011). En el caso concreto de los daguerrotipos es muy importante aplicar instrumentación científica que no requiera la toma de micromuestras y no destructiva, con el fin de que el método utilizado ayude en el estudio de su composición, aspectos morfológicos y estructurales de la superficie de la imagen (Berdini, Ferro y Residori 2008: 30), así como de sus procesos de envejecimiento y deterioro para contribuir a mejorar los ámbitos de intervención y preservación (Wei, Gerritsen y Waldthausen 2011: 31).…”

Section: El Daguerrotipo Primer Procedimiento Fotográficounclassified

“…Sin embargo, este aspecto no fue necesario en el caso de objetos como los daguerrotipos con el equipo utilizado en modo de bajo vacío, empleado para muestras que no requieren preparación previa. Se trata, por tanto, de una técnica complementaria habitualmente empleada en patrimonio fotográfico, cuyos resultados pueden proporcionar información que va desde determinar las causas de deterioro hasta la ayuda y mejora en la definición de intervenciones de conservación, restauración y limpieza adecuadas (Kozachuk et al 2019(Kozachuk et al : 1680.…”

Section: Análisis No Destructivo Mediante Microscopía Electrónica De ...unclassified

Mas allá de los primeros retratos fotográficos plateados: Estudio mediante microscopía SEM-EDX de dos daguerrotipos

García¹

2022

GEC

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Los daguerrotipos fueron los primeros retratos fotográficos y su estudio resulta fundamental para entender su valor como objetos, su complejidad material y el carácter experimental de la fotografía en su época más temprana. Técnicas analíticas como la microscopía electrónica de barrido SEM-EDX han sido ampliamente utilizadas para la caracterización, diagnóstico y conservación, pues permiten tanto el estudio morfológico de su superficie como conocer la composición elemental de estas piezas tan singulares. El presente artículo expone los resultados obtenidos con esta técnica en dos daguerrotipos pertenecientes a la colección del ingeniero Gustavo Gillman del Archivo General de la Región de Murcia –AGRM- y al Laboratorio de Investigación Fotográfica de la Universidad de Murcia –LIFUM- con el fin de profundizar en su materialidad, modo de manufactura, aportar información acerca de su estado de conservación y averiguar las principales causas de su deterioro. Además, se pone de relieve la presencia de un elemento inusual en uno de los daguerrotipos, el uranio, y se debate acerca del papel que este podría desempeñar en la composición del objeto.

show abstract

“…Using a micro-X-ray beam, we can conduct microscopy and microanalysis of the different patterns of the specimen. We have gained considerable experience over the years in the research and development of these techniques [9] and are encouraged by our recent success in retrieving high-resolution images from badly tarnished daguerreotypes [10][11][12], the first public photographs in human history. The applications of X-rays from synchrotrons in art and archaeology have also been reviewed recently [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Dzi Bead with Synchrotron Light: XRD, XRF Imaging and μ-XANES Analysis

Reinhardt

Xiao

et al. 2020

Heritage

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The origin of Dzi beads, also called “tian zhu”, has always been a mystery. These beads come in a variety of patterns, shapes and sizes. They have significant cultural and heritage significance in Tibet and areas surrounding the Himalayas. The most recognized beads are those with the “eye” pattern. They are said to ward off evil spirits. Due to their reputation, the demand for Dzi beads has increased in Asia. Herein, we report a study of a Dzi bead with a three-eye pattern using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and imaging techniques. This is a novel area for Dzi bead research using X-rays from a synchrotron light source to determine the chemical composition of the bead, if the pattern is natural or man-made or if the bead is genuine or a replica. These techniques revealed the bead to be composed of agate (silicon dioxide). An interesting feature on the bead’s surface was the etched rings, which were observed to contain regular copper hot spots on their circumference. Our results suggest that the Dzi bead was genuine and started out as an earth-formed agate, with the pattern crafted.

show abstract

Eyeing the past: synchrotron µ-XANES and XRF imaging of tarnish distribution on 19th century daguerreotypes

Cited by 5 publications

References 33 publications

Preliminary photographs and improved positives: discovering the New York Public Library’s Arctic Exploration album

Preliminary photographs and improved positives: discovering the New York Public Library’s Arctic Exploration album

Mas allá de los primeros retratos fotográficos plateados: Estudio mediante microscopía SEM-EDX de dos daguerrotipos

Exploring the Dzi Bead with Synchrotron Light: XRD, XRF Imaging and μ-XANES Analysis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About