A multi-year, interdisciplinary research project at Rutgers–Camden is revealing new discoveries about several rare art pieces
Among the treasures held in the Rutgers University–Camden Center for the Arts archives is a collection of 18 rare Ukiyo-e Japanese woodblock prints donated more than a decade ago by a Rutgers–Camden professor. Two undergraduate seniors, chemistry major Kayla Geulen and art history major Kennedy Short, recently shared their research on these exceptional pieces during SPARK!, a showcase of the research, creative expression, and academic exploration happening at Rutgers–Camden.
“We specialize in two very different fields: chemistry and art history,” said Short. “Working together to understand the background of these prints has provided an opportunity for each of us to gain new skills and a greater appreciation for interdisciplinary collaboration."
While the pieces were thought to have been created sometime in the 19th century during the influential Edo period, their actual history was not entirely clear—until a multi-year, interdisciplinary research project took a new look at these ancient masterpieces.
Geulen and Short’s work started in 2023, when they were approached by Georgia Arbuckle-Keil, professor of chemistry, and Chinghsin Wu, associate teaching professor of art history. Both students were eager to gain research experience, while the professors wanted to better understand the unique art pieces housed in the university's archives.
The art historical analysis sought to identify the artists and their lineages through detailed research into the Edo period, the stories depicted in the prints, and the techniques used. Meanwhile, the chemical analysis evaluated the pigments used with several different specialized microscopes.
Geulen and Short’s initial work, conducted during the 2023-24 academic year, evaluated the blue pigments on two pieces by Utagawa Toyokuni III. Blue pigments are notoriously hard to create, and early organic blues often faded substantially over time, so the vibrancy of the blue pigments on the identified pieces raised questions for Geulen and Short.
“Before the creation and import of Prussian blue to Japan, much of the country's craft and art were primarily taken from the land—pigments were created from natural, organic ingredients," said Short.
Short was able to identify a small Dutch trading route that peaked in 1824, which likely was how Prussian blue made its way to Japan. Meanwhile, Geulen confirmed that the chemical components of the samples taken from the prints matched the chemical structure of Prussian blue.
This academic year, on the heels of their success, Geulen and Short decided to research the red pigments used in the prints. The preliminary results proved inconclusive, partially because of the limitations of the microscopes used to evaluate the pigment samples.
Geulen and Short were encouraged by their faculty advisors to each apply for a Chancellor's Research Grant to support their continued efforts. To their delight, the application was approved. The funding supported the purchase of new equipment, the refurbishment of existing equipment, and travel to visit regional art museums to study other Japanese prints from the same period.
Because of the support and opportunities provided by the grant, Geulen and Short successfully identified the red pigments as iron oxide, further clarifying the history and background of these special art pieces.
As both students look toward graduation in May, they are grateful for the guidance provided by Professors Arbuckle-Keil and Wu and the funding they received for their multi-year research project.
“We were able to complete our research into the red pigments because of the Chancellor’s grant,” said Geulen. “But the investments that were made into the technology we used—the microscopes and the lasers—will continue to benefit future students at Rutgers–Camden, and that is important to both of us.”
