Paul Gauguin, born in 1848 and died in 1903, is well known for his experimental use of color and synthetist style. His works influenced many artists that came after him, such as the famous Spanish painter Pablo Picasso.

A research team has utilized a light bulb, a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, and computational power to unveil the creative process of Gauguin's works. Some 19 of Gaugin's works are found in the Art Institute's collection.

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Oliver Cossairt, a computer scientist at the Northwestern University, has developed computer software that can analyze the imaging data.

The new techniques reveal Gauguin's use of layered images created on paper by drawings and two different inks.

"To measure the 3-D surface of the prints, we used some very accessible techniques that can be used by art conservators and historians around the world to analyze artworks," said Cossairt.

"In applying these techniques to Gauguin's work, we came up with some interesting answers to questions about what his printing process was. The technique allows us to peel away the print's color and look at the surface structure only," Cossairt continued.

"For each image, we know the angle of the lighting and the brightness of each pixel and from that we can calculate the unknown -- the surface structure."

The research team has attempted to reproduce in the Art Institute lab what they believe is the same process used by Gauguin. The results were very similar to Gauguin's original work, according to the team.

"We never would have figured this out without Northwestern, its scientists and technology, because you don't see the evidence under the microscope," said Harriet Stratis, the Art Institute's senior research conservator.

"You can't tell the paper is just flat. The Northwestern team's lighting and imaging techniques show there is no deformation in the paper where the un-inked lines are, which blew me away." Stratis added.

TagsPaul Gauguin, art, Northwestern University, Art Institute of Chicago, nativity, Pablo Picasso, Light Bulb, SLR Camera, Computer Science, Artworks, Imaging