Picasso 1917: An Insight into the Effects of Ground and Canvas in the Failure Mechanisms in Four Artworks

This work presents selected results from in-progress research at the Museu Picasso Barcelona that examines the relationship between the condition of works on canvas by Picasso and the composition and physical-mechanical properties of the painting support materials. Four works by Picasso painted in 1917 that appeared to be composed of similar materials and painted using similar techniques were examined. Although the paintings were displayed in the same location, these paintings present significant differences in condition. Material analysis using light microscopy (UV-Vis-OM), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μ-FTIR), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed minor but important differences related to the canvas and grounds suggesting that the material differences in the works created by Picasso in Barcelona within the same year have caused various degrees of vulnerability to environmental and chemical deterioration.