How can art catch a cold?

Remember when you were little and were told not to touch the art in the museum? Aside from the value of the work, it was in order to preserve it from contaminants. Caitlin Richeson, conservation intern at Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, explains how the oils, salts, and acids from our skin can get onto the art work and potentially damage it. If you’re curious in how conservationists like Caitlin fix the art, click here for an awesome video demonstration!