A Color That Was Once More Expensive Than Gold! The Brief History of Artists’ Blues
The color blue, so common in our world today, has a history as rich and complex as the cultures that sought to harness its beauty. From being a color of divine purity to a shade that symbolized the lofty status of nobility, blue has traversed a fascinating journey through time. What’s even more intriguing is that there was a period when certain shades of blue were more precious than gold.
The Absence of Blue in Ancient Cultures
It may surprise many to learn that ancient Greeks and Romans largely ignored the color blue. In fact, they didn’t even have a specific word for it. Their rainbow omitted blue, and the hue was often associated with barbaric tribes like the Celts, who were said to dye their bodies blue before the battle. For the ancients, blue wasn’t just uncommon — it was seen as strange or even undesirable.
The Egyptian Innovation
The story of blue as a valued color begins with the Egyptians. They were fascinated by the brilliant blue of lapis lazuli and turquoise stones and sought to replicate this color in their art. This led to the invention of the first synthetic pigment known as Egyptian Blue. Created by mixing sand, copper, lime, and alkali, this vibrant hue was used extensively in tomb paintings and artifacts meant to protect the dead in their afterlife. The Egyptians’ ability to produce blue marked a significant advancement in both their art and their spiritual practices, as the color was believed to have protective and magical properties.
Blue as a Symbol of Royalty
In medieval Europe, blue began to take on a new significance. A plant known as woad, native to the Mediterranean, became the source of a blue dye that was highly prized but difficult to produce. The process of extracting the dye was labour-intensive and costly, which meant that blue fabrics were a luxury reserved for the wealthy. In art, blue was used to clothe figures of importance, reinforcing its association with nobility and divinity.
The Ultramarine: A Shade More Precious Than Gold
One of the most coveted and expensive blues in history was Ultramarine, made from grinding the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli, which was mined in Afghanistan. This rich, deep blue was so valuable that it was often reserved for the most important elements in a painting — typically the robes of the Virgin Mary. The cost of Ultramarine was so prohibitive that even renowned artists like Michelangelo struggled to afford it, and some paintings were left incomplete because of the sheer expense of the pigment.
The Blue Revolution: Chinese Porcelain and European Envy
The 14th century saw the rise of Chinese blue and white porcelain, crafted using cobalt blue from Persia. This blue was highly prized, and the porcelain became a symbol of wealth and sophistication in both the East and West. Europeans were so enamored with this exquisite blue that they spent centuries trying to replicate the technique, finally succeeding in the early 18th century.
An Accidental Discovery: Prussian Blue
In 1704, Johann Jacob Diesbach, a pigment maker in Berlin, accidentally discovered Prussian Blue, the first modern synthetic blue pigment. This discovery revolutionized art, making blue more accessible to artists everywhere. Prussian Blue quickly became a favorite among painters and was famously used by artists like Pablo Picasso and Katsushika Hokusai, helping to democratize the use of blue in art.
The Indigo Invasion
By the 18th century, blue had become a color for everyone, not just the elite. The introduction of indigo dye from Asia, particularly India, played a significant role in this shift. Indigo was more concentrated and produced a richer, more stable blue than woad. This dye became so popular in Europe that it eventually supplanted woad, leading to what some historians have called the “Blue Color Wars.”
Yves Klein and the Quest for the Purest Blue
Fast forward to the 20th century, when French artist Yves Klein sought to create the purest blue possible. Between 1947 and 1957, he developed International Klein Blue (IKB), a matte version of Ultramarine. Klein used this color extensively, covering canvases, sculptures, and even models, creating a unique body of work that explored the spiritual and emotional resonance of blue.
The Latest Blue: YInMn
The story of blue doesn’t end with Yves Klein. In 2009, Professor Mas Subramanian and his graduate student Andrew Smith at Oregon State University accidentally discovered YInMn Blue. This pigment, containing yttrium, indium, manganese, and oxygen, was the first new blue to be synthesized in over 200 years. Released for commercial use recently, YInMn Blue is vibrant, stable, and environmentally friendly, promising to add yet another chapter to the rich history of artists’ blues.
Conclusion
The history of blue is a journey from obscurity to ubiquity, from a color overlooked by ancient civilizations to one that defined nobility, divinity, and artistic expression. From Egyptian tombs to Renaissance altarpieces, from Chinese porcelain to Yves Klein’s canvases, blue has been both a luxury and a revolution. Today, with the accidental discovery of YInMn Blue, the story continues, reminding us that the quest for beauty and expression in art is as vibrant and varied as the colors themselves.
Blue, once more expensive than gold, remains priceless in its ability to captivate the human spirit.
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