Cadmium Red Medium 

Editor: Here we have Cadmium Red Medium, created by The Harshaw Chemical Company. It seems to be both the raw pigment in a jar and a swatch showing the color. I'm curious, what does this pigment sample tell us about the history of art materials? Curator: It reveals the industrialization of art. Instead of artists grinding their own pigments, companies like Harshaw manufactured and standardized colors. This shift democratized art-making by making materials more accessible, but also raised questions about artistic control and authenticity. How does this industrial production influence our perception of art today? Editor: That's a great point. It makes you wonder about the artist's relationship with their materials, doesn't it? Curator: Exactly. And it prompts us to consider the social and economic forces shaping the art world beyond the studio.