Watch Diana Hartman at Her Art Conservation Job

The video you can watch below shows the process of the restoration of a 1907 painting from the Museum of Modern Art. It features conservator Diana Hartman who’s an expert at solving problems, acquiring the needed tools, and doing the required work. She’s currently working on the conservation of a hundred-year-old painting by Paula Modersohn-Becker. The work is specific because it’s still on the original wood stretchers that the artist put the painting on, which means there are some logistical inconveniences that don’t usually appear.

In order to repair the painting, Hartman uses a microscope, eye surgery needles, and custom-shaped canvas patch that matches the original watercolors.

Her work is incredibly precise and truly impressive! Check out the video below to see how Hartman does it and to hear more about the restoration of this particular painting; the story gets pretty interesting!