The effect of oil binders on the paper support of an artwork is investigated through the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from artificially aged cotton and wood based paper strips impregnated with linseed oil, as well as areas of damage on original oil sketches, studies and b/w wood cut prints, using head space-solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Considering that degradation of oil substances and paper results in common byproducts, monitoring of certain furan and furfural derivatives, which are exclusively associated with paper degradation, is discussed.