WATER DAMAGED KIKI SMITH

Treatment completed January 2023

Photographer ········· Kiki Smith
Title ········· untitled [Women]
Year ······ 2005
Medium ········· Silver Gelatin DOP
Dimensions (H x W): Print: 15 7/8” x 19 3⁄4” Mount: 17 3⁄4” x 21 1⁄2”
Owner ······· WUDPAC Study Collection

Description

The photograph is a gelatin silver developed-out print, neutral black in tone, with white margins, mounted overall on a white 4-ply mat board with plain borders. The mounted photograph is comprised of a silver image, gelatin binder, baryta layer, paper primary support, and paper secondary support. The print is mounted likely using a cold mounting method (pressure-sensitive adhesive). The image is a photogram depicting a woman in the foreground holding a book, with roses on a stem and a house on her left and a tree on her right. There is an inscription in graphite on the top right corner of the mount verso that reads “DW37826”.

Condition Assessment

The print and secondary support are in poor condition overall due to damage resulting from a water event. The print and mount are both significantly distorted with the bottom edge of the mount raised approximately 1.5 inches. There are a significant number of accretions (dust, paper fibers, and small bits of glass) across the surface of the print. The bottom edge of the print margin is moderately discolored to a yellowed off-white with a large concentration of accretions in the stained area. Additionally, there are moderate abrasions scattered across the surface of the print, most of which are near the center, and range from approximately 1⁄2 an inch to 4 inches long. There are minor areas of emulsion loss on the left center, center, and right bottom edge of the print, ranging from 1/16 to 1/8 an inch.

Distortion of the print and mount, raising about 1.5 inches

Surface grime on bottom center edge of print before treatment

Surface cleaning print using 50:50 water and ethanol. Image by Evan Krape

During unmounting of the print, bottom layers of mount have been removed mechanically

Reducing adhesive carrier and adhesive residue on verso of print

Using steam to reduce surface disruptions

Treatment Report

Reduced surface soil on the recto of the print using an air blower, soft brush, polyurethane cosmetic sponges, porcepine quilll, and solvent applied with cotton swabs.
Mechanically reduced the mount. The mount was sacrificed in order to safely remove the print. All mount remnants were discarded.
Lighty humidified and flattened the print between felts.
Removed the upper layers of the mount and adhesive residues from the verso of the print using heated spatula with mechanical action and a crepe eraser.
Improved the overall planarity of the print using humidification followed by drying between non-woven polyester fabric and blotters under weights
Applied local humidity on verso of print to reduce localized distortions.
Filled areas of loss on verso with methylcellulose.
Inpainted areas of image loss using watercolors applied over a 2% gelatin solution isolating layer.
Secured the print within a new window mat using paper photo corners. Housing materials in contact with the print will have passed the Photographic Activity Test (PAT).