Development of a portable ultraviolet-visible absorption/ fluorescence spectrometer and its application to nondestructive on-site analysis of original drawings by katsushika hokusai

Abstract

A portable spectrometer capable of measuring both an ultraviolet-visible absorption (UV-vis) and a fluorescence emission spectrum was developed with the aim of nondestructive onsite analysis of be the cultural heritage and artwork. To demonstrate the availability of the spectrometer, we brought it to Hokusai Museum to carry out the analysis of original drawings by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), a Japanese Ukiyo-e painter and printmaker of the Edo period. His two drawings, “Waves” and “Chrysanthemums”, were investigated by means of the UV-vis/fluorescence spectrometer together with portable instruments of other analytical techniques (X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, X-ray powder diffractometry, and micro Raman spectroscopy), in the nondestructive manner. As the results, UV-vis and fluorescence emission spectra revealed that Hokusai had used several kinds of organic pigments and dyes in these two paintings. Generally, it is difficult to identify these organic painting materials by X-ray analytical techniques. Our analytical results demonstrated that Hokusai had created beautiful and deep colors in drawings by a mixing or a recoating of various pigments and dyes such as indigo, laccaic acid, safflower.