Zinc White Oxide Zinc 

Curator: The artwork before us is titled "Zinc White Oxide," produced by Charles Roberson and Co. It seems like a reference point, a historical marker. Editor: It feels like a ghost of art history. The color chart next to the zinc white makes me think about the science behind the hues. Curator: Indeed. Roberson and Co. were instrumental in supplying artists, shaping the look of painting. The label is evidence of their role. Editor: Looking at the bottle, I wonder what specific meanings "white" carried then versus what it symbolizes in art now. Purity? Blank slate? Curator: Exactly. White is a loaded color, historically intertwined with notions of power and even erasure. Editor: It's compelling to consider how a seemingly simple material could be so central to artistic production and ideological representation. Curator: It makes you wonder how many masterworks were created using this very pigment from Roberson. Editor: A poignant reminder of the materials and social conditions behind even the most ethereal paintings.