Indian Red 

Editor: Here we have "Indian Red" by Tizian Color Co. in the Harvard Art Museums' collection. The color itself is quite striking, but what's more interesting is the label on the jar. What can you tell me about its historical relevance? Curator: Well, the "Indian Red" pigment name itself is tied to a colonial history, derived from iron oxide found in India. The jar, produced by a color company, speaks to the industrialization of art supplies and the commodification of color. Do you think this shift impacted artistic practice? Editor: Absolutely, it democratized artmaking. It’s thought-provoking how something as simple as pigment packaging can reveal so much about cultural and historical forces. Curator: Indeed. It highlights the often-overlooked socio-political dimensions embedded within artistic materials.