Cyanine 27-Sep

Curator: Here we see “Cyanine,” manufactured by Charles Roberson and Co. Editor: It’s quite arresting. The blue pigment against the glass is reminiscent of an alchemical vessel. Curator: Indeed. Roberson was a key supplier to British artists. We can contextualize this pigment within the history of color production, considering its accessibility to different artists based on class and gender. Editor: The color swatch is intriguing. Cyan, especially, represents constancy and loyalty across cultures. It’s used in flags, corporate logos. Curator: And the availability of such intense synthetic blues revolutionized painting. It democratized color, though debates about authenticity persisted. Editor: I find myself thinking about the weight of tradition, the stories these colors could tell through history. Curator: Absolutely, and understanding how these materials were sourced and used offers critical insight into power dynamics. Editor: It's remarkable how much history a single color can hold.