Invisible Art: Does it exist?

Posted by Mary Rayme Oct 22, 2006

When I worked at the Baltimore Museum of Art back in the 80's, I sometimes had the opportunity to see pieces of art that were not available to the general public. One day in the Print Room at the museum, the curator Jay Fisher pulled out (delicately) an ancient Durer print that was in obvious trouble, as the paper was worn through in places and yellowed. Fisher indicated that this print would never be on display and would never be seen by the public. It is too delicate to be exposed to even the low-level exhibition lights that are used for transient works on paper such as drawings or photographs. This was an amazingly detailed woodblock print by the master himself, Albrecht Durer, and from the Fifteenth century.

So I have wondered how many other "invisible" works of art exist in museum storage rooms? How many other museums pay for the care and maintenance of works of art that will never been seen? And, if a work of art exists and no one sees it, is it a work of art? What is accomplished in preserving a work of art if it is never seen?

And perhaps a way of offering these works to the world would be to take them out one last time and drum scan them? Even if the process destroys the works forever, they will be preserved digitally forever and ever. These works could be uploaded to the internet where they could be viewed for generations to come. In this new digital age, it is time for the museum to make itself accessible everywhere, not just in their own temple.