Ultramarine Blue, French Ultramarine (Artificial) 1927

Editor: Here we have "Ultramarine Blue, French Ultramarine (Artificial)" by F. Weber & Company. It's just a bottle of pigment, but that label makes it so striking. What do you see in this object? Curator: I see more than just pigment; I see the industrial revolution impacting art. The label declares this as "artificial," highlighting the shift from laborious, costly natural ultramarine, to mass-produced color. Notice the chemical formula on the label, reflecting industrial materials and processes in the creation of art. Editor: So, it's about the changing means of production, the shift from hand-made to factory-made impacting our access to color? Curator: Precisely! The bottle itself, the label's typeface, even the corporate signature, all speak to the commodification of art materials. It's a material history lesson contained in a jar. Editor: That's fascinating! I never thought of pigment in this way before. Curator: Considering the labor and resources involved offers a fresh perspective.