Restoration is often seen as the finish line — but the real story begins after the reveal. From a hidden child in a 19th-century portrait to lost names in a water-damaged census, restored histories ripple outward, reshaping how we see the past.

Ever wonder how priceless works of art are restored? In this first part of our series on restoration, we explore the tools, techniques, and precision behind the conservation of historic paintings—and what it means when a lost face is brought back into view.