Video•Apr 10, 2026
The Art of Conservation: Egon Schiele's "Portrait of an Old Man (Johann Harms)" #art #guggenheim
The Guggenheim’s Modern European Currents exhibition features Egon Schiele’s 1916 "Portrait of an Old Man (Johann Harms)" after a meticulous canvas repair. Conservator Diana Hartman Drumm used ophthalmic surgical needles—tools normally reserved for eye surgery—to stitch the tear with microscopic precision. The restoration, funded by Italian wine producer Ornellaia, allows the work to return to public view in optimal condition. The project highlights the museum’s commitment to preserving modernist masterpieces for future audiences.
