EN
The problems connected with the process o f cleaning the surface o f the painting layer form a key issue in the conservation o f easel paintings. The operation itself is controversial, and entails many threats both to the artistic and the material aspect o f old paintings. Owing to the fact that in comparison with works on other conservation questions, pertinent literature remains relatively limited (this holds true especially for Polish-language studies), it seems worth presenting it to Polish conservators. This article concerns contemporary currents o f research about the cleaning o f paintings. The author discusses literature dealing with the analysis o f the character o f pollution and build up; she also examines the nature of the applied measures, as well as new methods and measures, primarily techniques o f restricting the penetration o f solvents and methods o f mechanical cleaning.