In the world of art conservation, the battle against time is a constant struggle. Masterpieces that have survived centuries are threatened by an invisible enemy: the slow, relentless process of paint degradation. One of the most notorious offenders is a pigment called cadmium yellow. Used by famous artists like Monet, Van Gogh, and Matisse, cadmium yellow was favored for its bright, sunny hues. However, many paintings featuring this pigment have suffered from fading, darkening, and flaking over the years.
For years, detecting this degradation has been a challenge. Visible signs of damage often only appear when it’s too late to prevent irreversible harm. But now, a team of researchers from Duke University has developed a new weapon in the fight to preserve our cultural heritage: a sophisticated technique called pump-probe microscopy that can detect the earliest stages of cadmium yellow deterioration long before the naked eye can spot the damage.
This groundbreaking method uses ultrafast lasers to “see” inside the paint layers without ever touching the surface, providing unprecedented insights into the complex chemical processes that cause masterpieces to decay. By shedding light on the unseen world of paint degradation, pump-probe microscopy is poised to revolutionize the way we protect and preserve priceless works of art.
So, what exactly causes cadmium yellow to degrade? It essentially comes down to chemistry. Cadmium yellow is made of a compound called cadmium sulfide. When exposed to moisture and light, cadmium sulfide can transform into other compounds like cadmium sulfate, leading to color changes and structural damage in the paint.
But now, a team of researchers from Duke University may have found a solution. In their recent study published in JPhys Photonics, they demonstrated a new, non-invasive way to detect the early stages of cadmium yellow degradation using a technique called pump-probe microscopy.
Source: https://studyfinds.org/laser-unseen-decay-paintings/