

Why online news reports claiming that LED exposure darkened the artist's colors were mistaken






The darkening of the paint is permanent, says Janssens, and “to reverse this chemical reaction would likely cause more damage to the paintings.” But the study did not isolate which band of light caused the browning or attribute it solely to LED bulbs.

This information is still of use to museums. As institutions phase out halogen and incandescent lighting in favor of energy-efficient alternatives like LED bulbs, they need to understand the possible effects these lights will have on artworks. “Like other museums, we are considering the switch to LED lighting,” says Hendriks. “We will certainly take this information on board with us when making a final decision.”


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