Technological Research of Paintings by Wilhelm Kotarbinski from the Collection of the Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Art

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to research works of easel painting by Wilhelm Kotarbinski from the collection of the Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Art, to establish their execution technique, to study art materials, to identify the pigment palette, and to introduce the results into scientific circulation. The methodology of the work consisted of an integrated approach that included theoretical (generalisation, comparison) and empirical (optical and physicochemical) research methods, such as imaging in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum, optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Scientific novelty. The presented work is the first study of Wilhelm Kotarbinski's paintings from the museum's collection, which aims to establish the technological characteristics of the fabric supports and grounds, determine the author's painting technique, and identify the pigments inherent in the artist's palette of the early 20th century. Conclusions. The research has shown that the author used commercial ready-primed plain weave linen canvases of various densities as a painting support. The characteristics and composition of the grounds were determined. It has been established that Kotarbinski's artist’s painting technique included applying a paint layer on the backside of the primed canvas. It is shown that in the executive process, the author finalised the painting with clarifications of image details or compositional corrections. The pigments of the paint layer have been identified. The palette inherent to the artist's early 20th century works was established. The obtained results allowed us to confirm the museum attribution of Wilhelm Kotarbinski's paintings. They are an important contribution to the existing body of knowledge about the Khanenko Museum's collection and can be useful in studying and confirming the authenticity of Kotarbinski's artworks.