Bridging the gap between the Munch Room display and the conservation narrative: A decision-making model

Since the second half of the 20th century, public museums have witnessed a steady increase in expectations forimplementing transparent conservation and preservation strategies for their art collections, balanced with requirementsfor display and accessibility. Despite their permanent museum status, historical painting collections are not necessarilystatic as they continue to evolve over time and in tandem with current views and changes in perception. This phenomenonis refl ected in the National Museum of Art’s collection of 57 Munch paintings, which has a collective display traditionin terms of the Munch Room. The following study addresses the challenges in designing a viable conservation decisionmaking model for an anachronistically displayed collection of paintings. In terms of conservation, the focus is on the nonoriginal restoration varnish layers. Research methods include the creation of an updated survey of the 57 paintings andbuilds on two previous non-invasive scientifi c studies, which revealed that three-quarters of the Munch collection hadbeen varnished by the museum. A proposed decision-making design, based on contemporary art models, incorporates anextra visual overview of each painting’s historical trajectory. The theoretical framework of ‘object itineraries’ was adoptedto both interpret and map the shifts in the core display of paintings between 1909 and 2019. This approach helped tohighlight the recurring historical patterns related to the application of non-original restoration varnishes and physicaldamages. Likewise, changes in the painting’s iconic status and shifts in popularity in terms of display context and demand(exhibitions and loans) are more easily discernible. Finally, the study accommodates the changing role of the institution’sdecision-makers and stakeholders over the past 110 years and presents a useful format for the management of change inhistoric collections.