Washington, Nov 8 (PTI) Researchers have discovered asmall grasshopper embedded for more than a century in thethick paint of Vincent Van Gogh's masterpiece Olive Trees.
The grasshopper was found as part of research for acatalogue of the French painting collection at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City in the US.
While examining the painting under magnification,Paintings Conservator Mary Schafer discovered the tinygrasshopper embedded in the paint.
The insect was found in the lower foreground of thelandscape, but cannot be seen by visitors through casualobservation.
"It is not unusual to find insects or plant material in apainting that was completed outdoors," Schafer said.
"But in this case, we were curious if the grasshoppercould be used to identify the particular season in which thiswork was painted," she said.
Michael S Engel, Professor at University of Kansas,observed that the thorax and abdomen of the grasshopper weremissing and that no sign of movement was evident in thesurrounding paint, indicating that the insect was dead beforelanding on Van Gogh's canvas.
The grasshopper could not be used for more precise datingof the painting, researchers said.
"Olive Trees is a beloved painting at the Nelson-Atkins,and this scientific study only adds to our understanding ofits richness," said Julian Zugazagoitia, CEO and Director ofthe Nelson-Atkins Museum.
"Van Gogh worked outside in the elements, and we knowthat he, like other plein air artists, dealt with wind anddust, grass and trees, and flies and grasshoppers," saidZugazagoitia.
Van Gogh described his outdoor painting practice and thechallenges in an 1885 letter to his brother, Theo: "But justgo and sit outdoors, painting on the spot itself! Then allsorts of things like the following happen - I must havepicked up a good hundred flies and more off the four canvasesthat you will be getting, not to mention dust and sand..."Analysis of the painting also confirmed that Van Goghused a type of red pigment that gradually faded over time.
These findings suggest that areas where Van Gogh employedthis red, either alone or mixed with other colours, appearslightly different today than when the painting wascompleted. PTI SARSAR.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.