White Lead 

Editor: Here we have "White Lead," a pigment manufactured by Wadsworth, Howland & Co. The chunks of white are quite striking, almost like sugar cubes on a delicate plate. What's your take on this seemingly simple material? Curator: Ah, deceptively simple! White lead carries a heavy history. It was the pigment of choice for centuries, lending its brilliance to masterpieces. But at what cost? Its toxicity haunted artists, a bittersweet trade for luminous color. It makes you wonder, doesn't it, about the hidden stories within our materials? Editor: Definitely something to ponder, the cost of beauty. I'll never look at white paint the same way again! Curator: Precisely! It invites us to consider the artist's touch, and the unseen hands that manufactured it.