Cobalt Yellow (Aureolin) 1927

Editor: Here we have Cobalt Yellow (Aureolin), made by F. Weber & Company, Inc., and though it's undated, the jar says "Weber 1927." It's literally just pigment! What do you see in a work like this? Curator: This isn't simply pigment; it's a commercial product, presented within a specific historical and economic context. The label tells us about branding, artistic consumption, and the industrialization of art supplies in the early 20th century. Editor: So, less about the color itself and more about its role in the art world? Curator: Exactly. How did readily available pigments change art making? Who had access to these materials, and how did that affect artistic production and distribution? Editor: That's a really interesting perspective. I never thought about paint this way! Curator: Considering the social life of art materials opens up a whole new area of inquiry.