Blue pigment: The history of its vibrant journey
Blue is a colour that has painted history and art alike. Do you know when the first blue pigment was developed? It was over 6,000 years ago! The colour blue has many variations. Once it was associated with royalty and was considered more valuable than gold. Not only that, it was also thought to have mystical powers in the ancient world. Who would have guessed that the colour of the sky could have such a rich history? Keep reading to discover the various faces of the blue pigment in art and how its different shades have evolved through the years!
The first blue pigment
The first blue pigment was discovered in the Middle East around 6,000 years ago. They extracted it from 'lapis lazuli,' a limestone rock mixture. Back then, people assumed the blue pigment to be mystical as limestone was considered precious. Because of its scarcity and high demand, synthetic blue arose in Egypt.
Egyptian blue, a lighter shade of lapis lazuli, was discovered 4,500 years ago. The Egyptians associated their synthetic blue colour with the heavens, fertility, and creation. It was created by heating sand, copper, lime and alkali together. Egyptian blue was more accessible and easily available. The colour's popularity spread throughout Egypt, Greece, and even the Roman Empire. However, when the Roman Empire fell, so did the use of synthetic Egyptian blue.
The Italian Renaissance and birth of Ultramarine
Ultramarine was the next blue that made its entry during the Italian Renaissance (From 1400s to 1700s). It was one of the most common colours in Western art history and was again created by grinding lapis lazuli found in the mountains of Afghanistan. Back in the day, ultramarine was the most expensive of all blues. It was even more expensive than gold! Artists saved the most expensive colours for religious purposes. As a result, ultramarine, like its predecessors, became a sacred colour.
The rise of Indigo and Prussian blue
The 18th century bore witness to the rise of the colour indigo. Indigo was derived from indigo plants grown in India and Egypt. The colour blue had such an impact that it sparked a trade war between European countries and American territories. India also experienced a revolt due to rising indigo demand. This incident led to the establishment of more plantations and the poor treatment of indigo farmers. You have come across the indigo revolt in Bengal in 1859 in your history syllabus, right?
Prussian blue was the next blue to enter the market after indigo during the 18th century. It was invented in Germany and was much cheaper and easier to produce than ultramarine. Some of history’s most famous artworks bear the mark made by Prussian blue. Two rominent examples include Katsushika Hokusai's painting, The Great Wave (1831), and Pablo Picasso's Mother and Child (1901).
The International Klein Blue
The colour blue was introduced to a new family member in 1947. However, this time, it was not a naturally occurring shade of blue but one created by an artist. Yves Klein, a French conceptual artist, experimented with different shades of blue and developed a unique blue pigment in 1947. It was known as the International Klein Blue.
The accidental discovery of a new blue pigment
Fast forward to 2006, the year which witnessed the accidental discovery of another blue pigment by researchers at the Oregon State University, US! When they heated manganese oxide to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, it transformed into a vibrant blue compound. This blue pigment was resistant to both heat and acid. It is the world's newest blue pigment.
The historical journey of the blue pigment is as vibrant and fascinating as the colour itself, isn’t it?