Gamboge 

Curator: Here we have "Gamboge," a sample of pigment manufactured by Madderton. It’s housed in a glass jar, sealed with a cork. Editor: It looks like sunshine captured in a bottle. The yellow pigment practically glows against the muted tones of the label and cork. Curator: Gamboge itself has a fascinating history. It’s a resin extracted from trees native to Southeast Asia, used for centuries as both a pigment and a medicinal substance. Editor: Interesting to see it categorized as a manufactured product. It makes you think about the global trade networks required to bring this material to artists. What kind of labor was involved in its harvesting and preparation? Curator: Exactly. And Madderton, as a manufacturer, played a key role in standardizing and distributing this material to a wider audience, impacting artistic production. Editor: It’s a reminder that even something as seemingly simple as a color has a complex social and economic life. I'll never look at yellow the same way again. Curator: Nor will I. It highlights the crucial role of industry in shaping artistic practices throughout history.