MICROFADE LIGHTFASTNESS TESTING ON THE SCREAM VERSIONS IN THE MUNCH MUSEUM COLLECTION

A microfading tester (MFT; also refers to microfading testing) was used to examine the light sensitivity of the colors on the eight different versions of The Scream in the MUNCH collection. The results would help in assessing how to meet the educational and exhibition mandates to always having one version of The Scream on display, while at the same time protecting the different version from overexposure. Earlier analytical studies on the museum's painted version, MM.M.00514, published in 2020, identified environmentally induced process of fading involved in the deterioration of the cadmium-sulfide-based yellow paint. However, colorimetric tests on color changes from a given cumulative light exposure had not been undertaken on either colorants or substrate in the various versions. Among the different areas investigated with the MFT, the most sensitive color was a dark red hue found in the sky region on the oil and tempera version (MM.M.00514 (1910?)) as well as on the hand-colored lithographic print (MM.G.00193-03 (1898)), where earlier analyses pointed out the presence of Vermillion. The overarching goal of the present research was, therefore, to optimize the lighting conditions based on the results of the MFT. A balanced rotatable display in exhibition context was introduced in the exhibition according to the different version's sensitivity. As a result, the museum can display artworks safely up to the permissible light exposure in an essential in-house exhibition while simultaneously learning more about their light-related degradation rate.