C.P. Para Toner Deep c. 20 - 41

Editor: Here we have "C.P. Para Toner Deep," made by Imperial Paper & Color Corp., date unknown. It’s a pigment sample, and the colour is so intense, like dried blood. What can you tell me about this object? Curator: Consider the cultural and historical implications of pigment production itself. This jar, a relic of industrial manufacturing, raises questions about access, labor, and the commodification of color. Who controlled the means of production, and how did this impact artistic expression? Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn't considered. Curator: Furthermore, the label's very existence challenges our understanding of authorship. It suggests a collective effort, a network of workers contributing to the artistic process. Editor: So, it's more than just a jar of pigment; it reflects broader socio-economic structures. I'll definitely remember that. Curator: Exactly, art exists within complex systems of power.