How to commit art murder, or, "I ruined a masterpiece, but saved on the framing"...
This
is very tragic, but thank God a good samaritan
rescued the art.
This original Marc Chagall lithograph had been
donated to the local library. Many years ago,
somebody made the decision to frame this
irreplaceable art with the cheapest framing solution
available. This included a cheap mdf frame with
standard glass and paper mats. To further insult the
art, the art was glued to the back of the mat.
So,
let's summarize how this art was nearly ruined;
1) The frame was made from a cheap mdf material which
out-gasses formaldehyde (an effective way to dissolve
art),
2) The glass provided no UV radiation protection from
the sun so fading is inevitable,
3) The mat was a cheap paper mat with acids that
leeched into the art and foxing (bacteria) is growing
on the paper,
4) The glue. Sigh, don't even get me started about
the glue.
A biological, chemical and radioactive attack on the
art. A true WMD from an art standpoint.
Friends don't let friends frame drunk.
Be that as it may, it is an amazing piece of
creativity.
Chagall
was
a Jewish Russian-French artist who lived from 1887
until 1985. He was a giant in the art world and an
early innovator of Modernism. It really is inspiring
to examine.
We are working on a new and completely archival frame
design. I will post it when the project is
finished.