Mars Yellow 1930

Curator: Here we have Mars Yellow, manufactured by F. Weber & Company, Inc. The precise date is unclear. Editor: My first thought is that this isn’t exactly art, but raw material. It gives off a scientific vibe with the color swatches. Curator: Right, the swatch offers a visual index, doesn't it? Mars, of course, evokes the god of war, the red planet, and a sense of alchemy. The color name is a powerful symbol in itself. Editor: Absolutely. It is intriguing to consider the labor and industrial processes required to produce this specific pigment by Weber in 1930. It hints at the commodification of color itself. Curator: It is a relic of color theory, capturing both the promise and the history of a certain hue. Editor: Seeing the jar and those swatches makes me think about all of the paintings waiting to be made. Curator: Yes, a moment of potential hangs in the air.