Armenian Bole 

Curator: What strikes me immediately is the dusty rose color of the pigment, how it’s settled in the bottom of the jar like a memory. Editor: Indeed, and what we're observing here is "Armenian Bole," a manufactured substance by Le Franc, housed in the Harvard Art Museums. It's a fascinating study in materiality. Curator: Materiality, yes, but let’s consider the colonial undertones. Armenian Bole, sourced perhaps from contested lands, processed by a French manufacturer. Who had access to this color? What narratives were amplified or suppressed through its use? Editor: An interesting point, and one could certainly delve into the socio-political implications. However, I find the presentation itself—the glass jar, the aged label—equally compelling. The composition invites a semiotic reading of preservation and scientific observation. Curator: Perhaps. But this isn’t merely about observation; it’s about power dynamics embedded within the art world and its supply chains. Editor: Regardless, it’s a compelling piece that invites inquiry into the very nature of artistic creation and its historical context. Curator: Precisely—a starting point for conversations about access, agency, and the stories behind the colors we see.