East Asian Painting Conservation

The East Asian Painting Conservation Studio, an integral part of the Department of Asian Art, is responsible for the conservation treatment, mounting, and preservation of the museum’s extensive collections of East Asian paintings including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Himalayan paintings. Formats range widely and include handscrolls, hanging scrolls, sliding panels, and folding screens, on paper and silk. The Studio also draws on the expertise of specialists working in Paper, Book, and Textile Conservation Departments.

In addition to the essential role of caring for the museum’s collections of East Asian paintings, the Studio plays an important part in the training of future generations of conservators, hosting interns and fellows from various training programs. In collaboration with colleagues in the Department of Scientific Research, the studio carries out critical research and analysis on the materials and techniques used in paintings of various formats. The information gained from these projects is shared with colleagues and the public through lectures and publications.

Current staff consists of five full-time conservators: two specialists for Japanese paintings and three specialists for Chinese paintings.