Hill & Adamson GEH 1967:0084:0057

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XRF analysis for AIPAD photographs (2009)
ID number, collection	1967:0084:0057, GEH
Title, author	*Ellen & Agnes Milne* , negative by Hill and Adamson, later print by Alvin Langdon Coburn
Date	Negative: ca. 1845; print: 1900-1918
Photographic process	Varnished platinum print
Description	Image	Brownish tones in the highlights, deep black, no fading, retouching
	Support	Primary	Yellow tint (not from deterioration, but from original color), 19.5 x 13.8 cm
	Support	Secondary	The print is mounted by dots of glue at top corners, on good quality paper (cream in color, with long fibers apparent), 22 x 15.3 cm
Instrument	Handheld TRACeR III-V Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)
XRF settings	40 kV, 8 µA, 6mil Cu_1mil Ti_12mil Al filter, no vacuum, 300s
Objective	1-Obtain XRF analysis as part of the documentation/characterization of the prints presented at AIPAD 2009. 2-Confirm process identification. 3-Look for toning agents. 4-Look for information that can be used to characterize prints from certain periods/certain authors through XRF analysis.
Expected results	Image: Pt, Hg? Coating: pigment in the varnish (Fe)? Primary support:? Secondary support:?
Instrument Operators	Caroline Barcella, Alejandra Mendoza
Data Analysis performed by	Caroline Barcella, Alejandra Mendoza, Bruce Kaiser, March 2009

Examination Area

Examination area: 3.5 x 4.5 mm

Spectrum

1- Dmax (K7) – darkest shadow area in top left quarter. Platinum and mercury are visible in the spectrum and constitute the image material of the print. Small amount of iron and lead are present, coming either from the primary or secondary support or from a pigment added to the varnish. Calcium is present in small quantity, coming from the primary or secondary support.

2- Dmin (DE6.5) – highlight area in top right quarter. Mercury and platinum are present in small quantity in the highlights (which are not totally white). Calcium is present, coming either from the primary or secondary support (further analysis show that calcium is found only in the secondary support). Iron and lead may belong to the coating (pigment added), primary or secondary support.

3- Subtraction spectrum: Dmax – Dmin = image material. The image material is composed of platinum and mercury. Mercury is often encountered in platinum prints, since it was used as an additive either to the sensitizer or developer to produce warmer color tones.

4- Secondary support (H21) – bottom edge of the secondary support. Calcium and probably strontium are present in the secondary support, as well as a small amount of iron.

5- Subtraction spectrum: Dmin – secondary support = primary support + Dmin. Iron is present, coming either from the fabrication of the paper, from the platinum process (residual product from the sensitizer), or from a pigment added to the coating. Lead is also present, coming either from the fabrication of the paper base or from the process (toning agent added to the sensitizer). No other elements are noticeable in the primary support. Mercury and platinum are found because of the image material still present in the highlights.

Bibliography

Alvin Langdon Coburn Photographer: an autobiography with over 70 reproductions of his works, edited by Helmut and Alison Gernsheim, New York, Dover Publications, 1978, p.18
Ted Rice, “Platinum/Palladium” in Coming into Focus: a step-by-step guide to alternative photographic printing processes, edited by John Barnier, San Francisco, Chronicle Books, 2000, p. 122
Mike Ware, “An Investigation of Platinum and Palladium Printing” in The journal of photographic science, Vol. 34, No. 5-6, pp.165-177, 1986, http://www.mikeware.co.uk/downloads/Palladium_Printing.doc, pp.19-21

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