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. 2022 Oct 18;27(20):7023.
doi: 10.3390/molecules27207023.

Photons for Photography: A First Diagnostic Approach to Polaroid Emulsion Transfer on Paper in Paolo Gioli's Artworks

Zeynep Alp  1 , Alessandro Ciccola  2 , Ilaria Serafini  2 , Alessandro Nucara  3 , Paolo Postorino  3 , Alessandra Gentili  2 , Roberta Curini  2 , Gabriele Favero  1
Affiliations

Photons for Photography: A First Diagnostic Approach to Polaroid Emulsion Transfer on Paper in Paolo Gioli's Artworks

Zeynep Alp et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

The aim of this research is to study and diagnose for the first time the Polaroid emulsion transfer in the contemporary artist Paolo Gioli's artworks to provide preliminary knowledge about the materials of his artworks and the appropriate protocols which can be applied for future studies. The spectral analysis performed followed a multi-technical approach first on the mock-up samples created following Gioli's technique and on one original artwork of Gioli, composed by: FORS (Fiber Optics Reflectance), Raman, and FTIR (Fourier-Transform InfraRed) spectroscopies. These techniques were chosen according to their completely non-invasiveness and no requirement for sample collection. The obtained spectra from FTIR were not sufficient to assign the dyes found in the transferred Polaroid emulsion. However, they provided significant information about the cellulose-based materials. The most diagnostic results were obtained from FORS for the determination of the dye developers present in the mock-up sample which was obtained from Polacolor Type 88 and from Paolo Gioli's original artwork created with Polacolor type 89.

Keywords: Paolo Gioli; blue copper phthalocyanine; chromium (III) complex of azomethine dye; chromium complex of an azo pyrazolone; fibre optics reflectance spectroscopy; polacolor; polaroid chemistry.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Absorption bands of the sample Polaroid 88 transferred on paper obtained by FORS spectrophotometer.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Blue copper phthalocyanine compound.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The general structure for a Chromium complexed magenta dye developer in Polaroid films; the X, Y, and Z substituents could vary in different dyes of the same typology.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Structure of the magenta dye developer present in Polacolor 2 films and identified in the studied mock-up.
Figure 5
Figure 5
FTIR spectra of points F1, F2, F3, paper, and the dry obtained from the mock-up sample.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Absorption bands obtained by FORS spectrophotometer from Paolo Gioli’s original artwork.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Magenta a chromium complex of an azo pyrazolone of type.
Figure 8
Figure 8
FTIR spectra of points GF1, GF2, and GF5; of the paper obtained from the original artwork of Gioli; and of the reference dry gel. Signals of the dry gel are highlighted.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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