Vault to Wall: 1890 Albumen Print by Kusakabe Kimbei

What happens after an object is selected to be exhibited in the Collection Gallery? The process shown in this video is an overview of what goes into bringing an object from storage to display.

See the object on view in our virtual exhibition by visiting eastman.org/selections-collection.

First, a curator chooses an object and retrieves it from the vault. The curator examines the object and confirms or adjusts its cataloging information in the museum’s collections database: title, date, medium, dimensions, and any inscriptions on the object.

Next, the object is taken to the photography studio to be photographed.

The resulting digital master files, which document the object at that moment in time, are used to create files for a variety of uses, including publication and online access.

In the conservation lab, conservators document the object’s condition and determine whether any treatment is needed. For this unmounted albumen silver print, false margins applied to its edges help to reduce the curl of the thin paper. Additionally, the margins allow the photograph to be handled safely and to be displayed all the way to its edges.

Once conservation work is complete, preparators create a custom mat and frame. The photograph is put into a sealed package inside the frame. The sealed package guards against environmental factors such as changes in humidity, which can cause distortion and deterioration. It also protects the object from airborne pollutants, water damage, and pests.

When it is time for installation, preparators carefully hang the work so that it is secure, level, and positioned correctly on the wall. A label containing identifying information about the object along with text that has been researched and written by a curator is added next to the work.

By taking these steps, we ensure every work that will be on display is documented, protected, interpreted, and prepared for you to see in the gallery.