Prof. Dr. Wibke Neugebauer, Ulrike Palm, and Hadwig Goez worked together on source research at the Archiv Baumeister at the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart and selected paintings of particular interest for further analytical investigation. They will ultimately compile the results from research on the individual paintings. Saskia Link, Josephine Opitz, and Katja Lorenz are delving deeper into individual research topics as part of their master's theses in study program Conservation of Paintings and Polychrome Sculptures at the ABK Stuttgart.
ABK Stuttgart, study program Conservation of Paintings and Polychrome Sculptures
Interests and contribution:
Research: Conceptualization and coordination of the research project, technological examination of paintings, source research, consolidation and contextualization of research results, supervision of master's theses.
Outreach: Design and implementation of outreach programs offered during the process, exhibition planning.
A Results
Hadwig Goez
Archiv Baumeister at the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart
Interests and contribution:
Research: Supporting the research team in their research and facilitating access to archival materials and paintings.
Outreach: Design and implementation of outreach programs offered during the process, exhibition planning.
A https://www.kunstmuseum-stuttgart.de/archiv-baumeister
Ulrike Palm
Paintings conservator (diploma), project team member from 2022 to 2024
Interests and contribution:
Source research in the Archiv Baumeister (creation of a database of archival materials relevant to art technological research) and technological investigations of paintings by Willi Baumeister from the period 1930–1955.
A Results
Saskia Link
MA student in the program Conservation of Paintings and Polychrome Sculptures at ABK Stuttgart
Interests and contribution: Master's thesis
Title: “Archival Research at the two German Artists’ Paint Manufacturers Schmincke and LUKAS on Changes in the Formulations of Artists’ Oil Paints between 1930 and 1955”
A Results
Katja Lorenz
MA student in the program Conservation of Paintings and Polychrome Sculptures at ABK Stuttgart
Interests and contribution: Master's thesis
Title: “Hyperspectral Imaging for Separation and Identification of Binding Media on Paintings. Generating representative reference spectra and conducting systematic experiments on versatile mockups to evaluate the feasibility and limitations of utilizing hyperspectral imaging for examining binding media on paintings, with a focus on the material palette of Willi Baumeister”
A Results
Josephine Marie Opitz
MA student in the program Conservation of Paintings and Polychrome Sculptures at ABK Stuttgart
Interests and contribution: Master's thesis
Title: “Investigation of Hardboard as a Painting Support in Early 20th Century Painting, Based on the Estate of Willi Baumeister from the Period Between 1935 and 1955”
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The Schoof’sche Stiftung (Munich) is covering the costs of complex, micro-invasive material analyses of the binding media used in the paintings selected. These analyses are being carried out in cooperation with the Cologne Institute for Conservation Science (CICS) at the Technical University Cologne (by Prof. Dr. Ester Ferreira and Charlotte Hoffmann), the Doerner Institut of the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen (by Dr. Patrick Dietemann, Ursula Baumer) and the Department of Conservation Science at the Deutsches Museum (by Dr. Marisa Pamplona, Dr. Anna Micheluz) in Munich.
Doerner Institut of the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Munich
Interests and contribution: Binder analyses with a focus on the identification of semi-synthetic, natural, and synthetic binding media, performed using FTIR spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Doerner Institut of the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Munich
Interests and contribution: Binder analyses with a focus on the identification of semi-synthetic, natural, and synthetic binding media, performed using FTIR spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
TH Köln, Cologne Institute for Conservation Science (CICS)
Interests and contribution: Binder analyses with a focus on the identification of synthetic binding media, performed using FTIR spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
TH Köln, Cologne Institute for Conservation Science (CICS)
Interests and contribution: Binder analyses with a focus on the identification of synthetic binding media, performed using FTIR spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Department of Conservation Science at the Deutsches Museum in Munich
Interests and contribution: Binder analyses with a focus on the identification of semi-synthetic, natural, and synthetic binding media, performed using FTIR spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Department of Conservation Science at the Deutsches Museum in Munich
Interests and contribution: Binder analysis with a focus on the identification of semi-synthetic, natural, and synthetic binding media, performed using FTIR spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Non-destructive examinations of binding media and pigments in Baumeister's paintings are being carried out in cooperation with the insiTUMlab at the Technical University of Munich (by Dr. Clarimma Sessa, Dr. Eva Angelin, Nadia Thalguter, and Simon Mindermann). Hyperspectral cameras (spectral ranges VNIR–SWIR, 400–1000 nm / 960–2500 nm), a macro X-ray fluorescence scanner (MA-XRF), and portable Raman and infrared spectrometers were used for the investigations.
The insiTUMlab (Analytical Infrastructure for Non-Destructive In-Situ Studies of Cultural Heritage) is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) (project no. 492717225). The hyperspectral system used in the project was financed by the DFG's "Large Research Equipment" program (project no. 450461305).
At the ABK Stuttgart, Prof. Roland Lenz is contributing to the project by providing multispectral imaging of the paintings.
ABK Stuttgart, study program Conservation of Wall Paintings, Architectural Surfaces, and Stone Polychromy
Interests and contribution: Non-destructive examination using multispectral imaging (MSI)
Head of insiTUMlab, heritage scientist, scientific associate at the Chair of Conservation-Restoration, Art Technology and Conservation Science, Technical University of Munich
Interests and contribution: Testing and application of non-destructive imaging methods for material analysis and cross-epochal examination of historical materials.
Heritage scientist, research associate at the Chair of Conservation-Restoration, Art Technology and Conservation Science, Technical University of Munich
Interests and contribution: Analysis of modern and contemporary materials, including semi-synthetic and synthetic artistic materials, performed using spectroscopic methods.
Heritage scientist, research associate at the Chair of Conservation-Restoration, Art Technology and Conservation Science, Technical University of Munich
Interests and contribution: Use of imaging techniques for the material analysis, documentation, and examination of works of art. In the context of his work at insiTUMlab, Mindermann is writing a doctoral thesis entitled "Optimization and Implementation of Advanced Hyperspectral Imaging Techniques for In-situ Investigation and Material Characterization in Cultural Heritage Science," focusing on the further development and application of hyperspectral imaging for the non-destructive identification, mapping, and documentation of materials in works of art and architectural surfaces.
Conservator of wall paintings and architectural surfaces at the Chair of Conservation-Restoration, Art Technology and Conservation Science, Technical University of Munich
Interests and contribution: Nadia Thalguter works with digital methods for the systematic documentation and mapping of wall paintings. In the Willi Baumeister project, she provided her art technology expertise for the non-destructive analyses carried out at insiTUMlab, and she addressed questions at the interface between art technology, conservation, and materials analysis.
Prof. Dr. Christoph Krekel and Dr. Stephanie Dietz from the Archaeometric Laboratory at ABK Stuttgart are performing pigment analyses on cross-sections and powder samples.
ABK Stuttgart, head of the Archaeometric Laboratory in the Conservation study programs
Interests and contribution: Pigment analyses using scanning electron microscopy and RAMAN spectroscopy
Research associate in the Archaeometric Laboratory in the Conservation study programs
Interests and contribution: Pigment analysis using scanning electron microscopy and RAMAN spectroscopy
Another key objective of the project is to provide information on both the research process and the results to various target groups, with the help of communication designers Elia Schmid and Lisa Vollrath. This part of the project is being funded by the Wüstenrot Stiftung. Together with Carla Link-Walesch, Hadwig Goez, and Wibke Neugebauer, Schmid and Vollrath are developing various communication formats. (Public outreach)
Carla Link-Walesch
Archiv Baumeister at the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart
Interests and contribution: Development and implementation of communication formats for the research content
Elia Schmid
Interests and contribution: photographic documentation of the research process, video interviews with researchers, development of a visual language for communication
Lisa Vollrath
Interests and contribution: development and design of the project website