Painting Light : The Hidden Techniques of the Impressionists

The Impressionists were not only pioneers in style, they were first and foremost innovators in technique. Important information on Impressionist techniques has recently emerged from technical and scientific studies (stereo-microscopic, infrared and ultraviolet radiation and x-ray) of pictorial supports, constituent concepts and work methods; pigments and connecting elements, such as the interaction between the surface texture and painted effects. Painting Light is not just another catalogue on the Impressionists. It provides a panoramic view of the Impressionist and post-Impressionist pictorial techniques in 60 masterpieces by Van Gogh, Sisley, Gauguin and others.

Iris Schaefer is head of conservation at the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum Fondation Corboud, Cologne. Katja Lewerentz is a member of the academic staff at the CICS (Cologne Institute of Conservation Science), at the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne (FH Köln), and is the curator of various exhibitions. Caroline von Saint-George is a curator and researcher.