Scientists Uncover Pablo Picasso's Chemical Fingerprint In Breakthrough Study

 This article originally appeared on artnet News.

Using cutting-edge, non-invasive technology, chemical engineer Dr José Francisco García Martínez of the University of Barcelona, in collaboration with the Museu Picasso, Barcelona analyzed works from the artist's early period, prior to the advent of Cubism.

“We didn't work invasively, only with light. Spectrometry is a proven and long-used method, but the analytical equipment, up to now, did not allow us to examine large objects such as a work of art," Garcia Martinez told Der Standard in an interview.

“It is similar to space research, whereby the chemical composition of far-away planets is analyzed based on the light they reflect," he explained. "Reflectometry in the infrared region provides an insight into its layers and its composition."

The study not only reveals information about the composition of the artist's early work—which will be of great interest for art historians—but also provides what García Martínez calls “a chemical fingerprint of the young Picasso's process," which could prove to be invaluable for authentication and the detection of fakes.

“This chemical fingerprint is unique to the painter and allows us to characterize him. It is not only about the materials used but also about traces, which for example give us clues about where Picasso bought his pigments. This is a solid scientific basis for research," García Martínez explained.

Despite the important findings, the chemical engineer said there's still work to be done. "That's the way it is in science. When you answer a question, the answer raises even more questions," he said.

The chemical fingerprint isn't the only science-based authentication system that's helping the art world tackle fraud. In October, scientists developed a unique synthetic DNA tagging system for artworks with the aim of preventing forgery.

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