Non-destructive analysis in the study of historical photographs by pXRF and ATR-FTIR spectroscopies

Author(s)

Zamboni, Cibele Bugno ^[1] ; Redigolo, Marcelo Miyada ^[1] ; Miura, Vinicius Takami ^[1] ; Costa, Isolda ^[1] ; Nagai, Maria Luiza Emi ^[1] ; Salvador, Pablo Antonio Vasquez ^[1] ; Giovanni Nogueira da Silva, Dalton ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] CNEN SP, Inst Pesquisas Energet & Nucl, Av Prof Lineu Prestes 2242, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES; v. 66, n. 3 FEB 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Material characterization is essential to the provenance of graphic arts. Non-destructive analytical techniques are increasingly required in the authentication process of cultural heritage. This work presents a suite of portable, non-destructive, and complementary analytical techniques, energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies, and brightfield microscopy, applied to the analysis of historical photographs depicting Sao Paulo city architecture, whose registration date and process of fabrication are unknown. The EDXRF analysis emphasizes the use of typical POP (printing-out paper) photograph with baryta (BaSO4) coated paper substrate while the FTIR and microscopy analyses confirm the presence of collodion and a gelatin-based baryta layer. This photographic process was widely employed by professional photographers from 1889 to 1930, when it was gradually abandoned in commercial use. This time interval (1889-1930) is consistent with the information surveyed on the photographic collection. In conclusion, employing complementary techniques (elemental and molecular spectroscopies and image magnification) is essential in identifying the manufacturing materials of cultural heritage material, which is the basis of contemporary authentication procedures. These data provide to curators and historians fundamental information for cataloging, adding subsidies for the correct storage and preservation ({''}heritage appreciation{''}). Still, for professional photographers, they present information on the manufacturing processes of historical photographs. The data from the present study also emphasize its perspective of use in graphic arts to aid connoisseurship in identifying forgeries during provenance and authentication studies. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/01750-9 - Alternative procedure for clinical tests: multielemental analysis of body fluids using portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer
• Grantee: Cibele Bugno Zamboni
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants