Why Old Paintings Look So Yellow Today?

People once thought adding an extra layer would help preserve the artwork, but it actually did the opposite. This layer is a varnish applied after the painting was finished to make the colors appear richer and protect it from dust and moisture. But as years go by, the varnish oxidizes, turning yellow, darkening the surface, and even causing tiny cracks to appear. Now, conservators carefully remove the aged varnish, revealing the painting’s true colors just as the artist intended.