Asphaltum (Bitumen) Carbonaceous 

Editor: This is a sample of "Asphaltum (Bitumen) Carbonaceous" manufactured by Winsor & Newton. It’s...gloomy looking, honestly. I’m curious, what do you think about when you see it? Curator: I think about the old masters, and their bad habits! Asphaltum was a tempting shortcut for achieving rich, dark shadows, but it never truly dries. Editor: So, what happens? Curator: Over time, paintings using asphaltum can crack and turn into alligator skin. A beautiful disaster! It reminds us that even the most seductive materials can betray us. Editor: So, beauty can be destructive. That’s…a little unsettling. Curator: Art history often is! But now you know: don't trust the dark depths *too* much.