Studie i retuschering av målningar -historik, begrepp och metoder

Abstract

Retouching or inpainting, a term often used, belongs to restoration and is a complex area that requires interdisciplinary knowledge, both of materials and technology but also a works history and its context. Retouching is a restoration action and thus a practical measure that differs from preservation by not aiming to preserve the work, but rather to highlight the legibility and meaning of the image. This is done by making some kind of addition or change in the image. Inpainting is often performed as a last step in the conservation process, but one should from the beginning be clear about it´s purpose and how it should be done. Partly to determine which material is to be used and which method is most appropriate. Various factors affect what is selected to retouch and how it should be done. The awareness and knowledge of the conservator, the client's wishes or other professionals influence what is selected to maintain and in what historical context you want to put the work. The paper discusses the ethical principles surrounding the retouching of paintings as well as the values that govern whether and how a retouching is implemented. The historical theory and its emergence around retouching and various concepts are addressed in order to gain a greater understanding of its practice. A smaller survey of paintings conservators in Sweden was carried out. Partly to find out what values and ethical attitudes that are the basis for retouching and what method is used more frequently. The paper aims to provide a summary of retouching and contribute to the discussion and to fill a knowledge gap what is done among paintings conservators in Sweden today.