Hine, Lewis Wickes GEH 1978:0999:0117

From George Eastman House : Notes On Photographs

Revision as of 20:08, 24 September 2009 by EWelch (Talk | contribs)

(diff) ← Older revision | Current revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

XRF analysis for AIPAD photographs (2009)
ID number, collection	1978:0999:0117, GEH
Title, author	Powerhouse Mechanic, Lewis W. Hine
Date	Negative: ca.1920; print: probably late 1970’s
Photographic process	Gelatin silver print
Description	Image	Semi-matte surface, neutral image tonality, no fading
	Support	Primary	Fiber based, bright white tint, 25.2 x 20.4 cm
	Support	Secondary	/
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: Ag Primary support: Ba, Sr from the baryta layer
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 – darkest shadow area in top left quarter. Silver is clearly visible in the spectrum, and constitute the image material of the print. Elements of the baryta layer (barium and strontium) are also clearly present. No other elements from the primary support are noticeable.

2- Dmin – hightlight area in the unexposed border on top left corner. Barium and strontium are clearly visible, coming from the baryta layer. No other elements from the primary support are noticeable. As expected, silver is not present since the reading of the highlights was done in an unexposed area.

3- Subtraction spectrum: Dmax – Dmin = image material. The image material is composed of silver.
The small amount of strontium visible in the subtraction spectrum is due to variation in the intensity of the XRF analysis: strontium peak in Dmax is more intense than that of Dmin. Strontium is not part of the image material, but of the baryta layer.

Start a New Discussion