Orpiment, Yellow Powder 

Curator: So, here we have "Orpiment, Yellow Powder," created by Fezandie & Sperrle. It's currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first thought? It looks like sunshine captured in a bottle. A little dangerous sunshine, maybe. Curator: Orpiment itself is a historical pigment, a vibrant yellow derived from arsenic sulfide. Its use was widespread across various cultures and periods. Editor: Arsenic, huh? Suddenly that sunshine feels a lot more ominous. It makes you wonder about the artists who used this. Did they know how toxic it was? Curator: They often did, actually. But the brilliance of the color often outweighed the risks. The cultural value placed on vibrant colours made it a desirable, though dangerous, material. Editor: Incredible, isn’t it? Something so beautiful, so full of life, was also a potential killer. It’s like a metaphor for art itself, isn't it? Curator: Perhaps. It certainly demonstrates how the production and reception of art are deeply embedded in social, economic, and even toxicological realities. Editor: Well, I certainly see the power of this powder in a new light now. Curator: Indeed, it's a fascinating example of the complex stories that materials can tell.