Bitumen 

Curator: Here we have Bitumen, manufactured by Winsor & Newton. It's a photographic record, not an artwork in the conventional sense. My first thought is how somber and restrained the tones appear, almost like a memento mori. Editor: It certainly lacks visual excitement at first glance, but the color calibration chart suggests a broader context. The Bitumen refers to a pigment with a specific usage history, especially for creating the "Old Master" look. Curator: Precisely. Bitumen, derived from asphalt, was favored for its rich, dark glaze, yet its instability often led to cracking and darkening of paintings over time. This photograph captures a poignant irony, doesn't it? Editor: I agree; the visual evidence highlights a tension between the intended beauty and the inevitable decay, reminding us that all materials carry their own narratives of change. Curator: Yes, and the Winsor & Newton brand evokes a complex legacy tied to colonialism and the global extraction of resources. Editor: It is a sobering reflection on art’s materiality and the larger systems at play.