The slogan, "Keep Your Eye On The Ball, And On the Sun", comes from a public service announcement for Cancer awareness and prevention poster illustrated by Jack Davis - which was coincidentally created around the same time as the poster I'm writing about in this post!
We all know the dangers of prolonged exposure to the sun, especially without any protection, but we rarely consider the damage that sunlight can do to things. If it can ravage a human, then art definitely doesn't stand a chance.
In the grand scheme of things, this post is not that serious. But if you value what you have and have invested in, as you value yourself, then it's imperative to take as many precautions as possible to extend the life of those valuables.
My story is one of frustration at myself, being the steward of a collection I have been building for about 15 years. Not everything goes up for sale right away though. I sometimes hold onto something a little longer for myself. Today, however, I discovered sun damage to a piece that I had finally decided to let go. Felt like a gut-punch.
I had purchased the "Yves Saint Laurent 'LOVE 1991 - Lui C'est Moujik' vintage poster back in 2021 from a poster dealer in New York. It had some imperfections along the edges, but it was an overall fairly nice example. I was visiting for the day, while living in New Haven, CT at the time. So when I returned, I took the poster to a framer.
I did not use a high-end framing company - I actually took it to Michael's (this is NOT a paid solicitation - just sharing my experience), I was precise with what I wanted, and how I wanted it: soft bluish-grey 8-ply acid-free mat, black lacquer frame; UV glass - no dry-mounting; leave loose in the frame. (The corners of the poster are actually inserted into clear plastic pockets, so that no adhesive is touching the poster.) They did exactly what I asked; the price was reasonable- not cheap, but reasonable; they did a really nice job, and I was happy to hang it in my home.
I miss that place! It was my sanctuary, and had a beautiful light that bathed the space. The poster was hung on the second level, off to the side from a skylight - I had never seen the sunlight shine in that area, so I assumed it was a safe spot, prominent, but still tucked away from the sun!
Now I'm sharing these details because as careful as we think we are, the effects of the sun are so subtle. Here we are 5 years later, and I didn't even think about what was waiting for me until I opened the back of the frame to check for the dimensions of the poster, because it's important to me to provide as much detailed information as possible, like proper measurements and condition- hours before sitting at my keyboard to count the tale of my miscalculation.
I'm glad that I discovered this now because it would have been a such bad surprise after a sale, or from a customer inspecting it themselves. It would have been a huge embarrassment as well. That said, I was deeply disappointed to see the discoloration- a deeper yellow border around the image.
Thinking back, there was just enough consistent exposure for almost two years - the effects of sun damage are imperceptible until one day, ta-daaaaa!
I remember while working at a gallery in New York, when a couple brought in a framed Paul Colin poster that they wanted to sell- it was a French Grande, 47"x63" with a light blue background; but their poster had a section of discoloration across one of the top corners - a clear triangle of pale blue compared to the rest of the background. Even they were amazed at the difference and were equally oblivious to the change happening right before their eyes over the years. Like me, they found a spot for the poster, and there it stayed until they had to move it for whatever reason.
Can fading to color be fixed?
Unfortunately, there isn't a way to bring the faded color back. Older posters printed on newsprint-like paper are more forgiving when it comes to most kinds of damage, and allow for color to be added and blended. The over-painting restoration, however, should not feel like paint, and shouldn't stand out. With newer posters, or any that have a sheen or glossy surface are extremely difficult. Even if you can get a good color match, you'll always see the application of the medium from different angles. This is true in most all restoration of posters, because, if done correctly, the medium used in restoration is water soluble, and will always dry differently than the surface it's being applied to. Contemporary posters are a lot less forgiving and reflect imperfections much more, so you have to go well beyond the damaged area to blend the restoration. So in this case, like for my poster, it's better to leave the discoloration as it is.
What to do?
The disappointment that I feel toward myself and the damage to this poster, is that this is my business, and I've tasked myself with preserving and advising new collectors and buyers on investing in original posters and art. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I can offer my first-hand experience with this issue by encouraging, when it comes to displaying art, (this also goes for books, fabric, any leather.. ), draw the blinds, or close the curtains, or use a cover if you can, in addition to using UV protection, and be vigilant. It may seem like overkill, but the only way to protect your investment is to pay attention to it.
Oftentimes, the warmer colors are the most fugitive, but depending on the intensity and length of time, all colors are susceptible. What happened with my poster, and to the couple's poster, was preventable, had we applied any of the suggestions that I listed abovem or even changed the poster out for something else. That's not what one wants to hear after buying a piece of art, but until what was once bold and vibrant gets sun-struck, the I should've and could've suddenly makes sense.
If by sharing my experience with you has helped in any way, then some good has come of this. After taking my measurements and detailed photos, I put the poster back in the mat and frame and resealed it; I'm considering it for display in a couple of places... away from the kiss of the sun.
If this has helped you, please let me know. I'd love to hear your thoughts as well. Check back with me for more tips on art care and preservation.
Is there something in particular that you'd like to learn more about or need information on? Contact me.
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#art #paper #poster #preservation #sundamage #sunlight #vintage #interiordecor #homedecor
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