Tailored conservation of a triptych, addressing the individual needs of each print while preserving the integrity of the complete work.
Overview
Cow Going Abstract (1974) is a triptych of screen prints by Roy Lichtenstein. Although the three prints form a single artwork, each sheet had developed different conservation issues as a result of previous display conditions, handling and environmental exposure. These included surface soiling, discolouration, creasing, localised structural damage and water-related deterioration.
Conservation Strategy
The objective was to preserve the visual and material unity of the triptych while recognising that each print required a different conservation approach.
Rather than applying the same treatment across all three works, each sheet was individually assessed and treated according to its specific condition. This ensured that every intervention was both necessary and proportionate, while maintaining the coherence of the complete composition.
Treatment
All three prints underwent careful surface cleaning to remove accumulated dirt and contaminants before individual conservation treatments were carried out.
Areas of lifting paper fibres were stabilised, creases and distortions were reduced through controlled humidification and flattening, and localised staining was treated where appropriate. Particular attention was given to the third print, where previous water damage required targeted washing and carefully controlled bleaching to reduce staining and restore the stability of the paper support.
Following treatment, each print was rehoused in a bespoke archival enclosure to ensure safe handling and long-term preservation.
Outcome
The conservation treatment stabilised each print while restoring the visual consistency of the triptych as a whole. Structural damage, distortions and water-related deterioration were successfully addressed, allowing the three works to be handled, stored and displayed safely while preserving both their individual character and their relationship as a single artwork.
