Bedroom secrets

Condition

From the moment they leave the easel, paintings begin to change. That certainly applies to The bedroom, which was already damaged during Van Gogh’s lifetime. After that, natural ageing of the materials, later damage, and restoration treatments all took their toll. Recently, the painting was thoroughly examined to determine its current condition. This examination made use of a variety of modern techniques and instruments. The conclusion was that major restoration is essential, to preserve this masterpiece for the future. It also became clear that the painting has become severely discoloured over time.

Legacy

The question today is how to deal with this legacy. Which symptoms of change should be reversed, and which should be respected, or tolerated as irreversible facts? As a first step toward making these choices, the conservator who conducted the preliminary examination of The bedroom considered the options for a new restoration treatment.

Treatment

It took about a year to prepare for the restoration work. After the treatment proposal is accepted, conservator Ella Hendriks will begin cleaning the painting. Then she will fill and retouch areas of paint loss. Finally, she will enclose the painting in a special frame to minimise further damage.

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Micrograph of the paint surface of The bedroom

X-ray of The bedroom

Conservator Ella Hendriks examines The bedroom

With thanks to Shell and the Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage (ICN), partners in the project Van Gogh’s studio practice.