Green Seal Zinc 

Editor: Here we have "Green Seal Zinc," manufactured by Howe & French. It looks like a simple bottle of pigment, but I'm curious about its purpose being in an art museum. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This isn't just pigment, it's a historical artifact. Howe & French was a prominent supplier. Its presence here highlights the very infrastructure that supports artmaking, and the cultural institutions that enable it. Where do you think it was used? Editor: Maybe in paints, or for preparing surfaces? So, its significance is less about aesthetics and more about the history of art materials? Curator: Precisely! It reminds us that art relies on industry, commerce, and the distribution networks that make these materials accessible. Understanding these aspects gives us a fuller picture of artistic creation. Editor: That’s a really interesting way to look at it! I never would have considered the supply chain of art. Curator: Exactly, and that's why preserving seemingly mundane objects can be so illuminating. They unlock crucial stories about art's wider context.