A contemporary portrait: losses in the background

White losses broke the background of this portrait. Filled and retouched, the background is continuous again.

Drawn portrait of a tattooed man, with white losses in the background at the top right — Before

The same portrait after the losses were filled and retouched — After

The object

A contemporary drawn portrait: a man with tattooed arms, in front of a dark background where coat hangers hang.

Condition

White losses had opened in the background at the top right, next to the figure.

Treatment

The losses were filled with a suitable paper, then retouched only on the filled areas to match the tone of the background.

Result

The background is continuous again, and the eye goes back to the face. Contemporary works need the same rigour as old ones: their materials are often more fragile than people think.