Sunflowers by Paul Gauguin. Examination of Painting Materials

The structure and pigment composition of paint layers of Paul Gauguin’s painting Sunflowers are studied by investigating cross sections with fragments of the painting using polarization microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. It is found that the painting is painted on a striped colored cotton will canvas. The results of the study show that the primer consists of two layers: a lower chalk layer and an upper layer consisting of lithopone. Pigments such as cadmium yellow, barite yellow, ultramarine, cinnabar, arsenic copper, zinc white, lead white, chalk, and barite are found in the paint layers. It is found by pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry that linseed oil is used as a binder, and beeswax is applied to the painting surface to strengthen it. It is shown that the much better state of preservation of Sunflowers (relative to other paintings by Gauguin) is due to the choice of a twill canvas and adherence to painting technology.