“Optical Brightening Agents: A Visual Examination of the Solubility of Brighteners in Paper after Aqueous Treatment”
Optical brighteners are not necessarily perceived by the conservator upon examination under normal lighting situations, but they are still a fundamental component of an artwork. Not only can they affect our perception, but they can be an important clue in determining provenance. A thorough understanding of the possible effects that conservation can have on works containing these agents is necessary in determining appropriate techniques for treatment, storage, and display. As aqueous treatments are common in paper conservation, this experiment explores how long it takes brighteners to become soluble in water. From the results it may be concluded whether any contact with water might be permitted with such works of art.