The abundance of oldest oil paints samples, some of them 30 years old, is a rich source of information for degradation processes.
The mechanisms of crack formation, observable in most paintings gathered in museum collections, are still a mystery. In various research circles different concepts are gaining popularity, both related and unrelated to variations in relative humidity.
In Valencia, a major step was taken to finally answer this question. Together with conservators and partners in the CollectionCare project, a research strategy was developed to investigate these different hypotheses from each school of thought, with the ultimate goal of explaining how cracks in canvas paintings are created and under what conditions they expand. This goal aligns with the mission of our CRAQUELURE project funded by NAWA and we are excited to have a variety of skilled minds and collaborators working on such a problem which will solve questions plaguing not only those involved in protecting cultural heritage, but society as a whole.