Cyanine Blue 1927

Curator: This is Cyanine Blue, a manufactured pigment by Charles Roberson and Co., residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. The color itself is striking. Editor: The bottle, the color chart... it feels like a relic of a painter's studio, promising vibrant hues, almost a visual spell. Curator: Indeed. Blue, throughout history, has held significant cultural weight, often associated with royalty, spirituality, and the unattainable. Editor: And think of the labor involved, from raw materials to its formulation, the journey of this pigment is a story of resourcefulness and trade. Curator: The color evokes a dream-like calmness, a tranquil escape, a visual representation of longing, perhaps? Editor: I am drawn to the small scale. This tiny jar represents a whole world of artistic potential, but also the economic structure that sustains the production of pigment. Curator: A fascinating intersection of science, art, and culture. Editor: Exactly. A potent reminder of the material underpinnings of creative expression.