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The Mystery of Blue: Why Are Ancient Artists Favored by Super Blue?
Blue has been an important color in artistic creation since ancient times. This color has a long history, with the origins of its pigments dating back to ancient civilizations. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at ancient and modern blue pigments, the historical stories behind them, and the significance of the color blue in these works of art.
The history of blue pigment
The earliest blue pigment was made from lapis lazuli, a precious mineral mainly from the Rabisraj mine in Afghanistan. Lapis lazuli transformed into a super blue pigment, Ultramarine, which became one of the most revered and expensive pigments of the Renaissance. Artists often used this pigment in special creations, such as the Virgin Mary's clothes in paintings.
The price of ultra blue pigment was as high as thousands of francs per kilogram in the early 19th century, but synthetic ultra blue only cost less than 800 francs, making it gradually popular.
With the advancement of technology, many blue pigments have begun to shift from natural extraction to synthetic manufacturing. In 1904, French chemist Tassaert discovered a blue compound similar to super blue in a lime kiln, which marked the beginning of pigment synthesis. Since then, scholars such as Cai Mili and Quamed have further discussed and studied more blue pigment manufacturing processes, and the price of blue pigments has also been significantly reduced, allowing more artists to use them.
Ancient blue pigment
The ancient Egyptians created Egyptian Blue, the first synthetic blue pigment, around 2600 BC. Its raw materials are mainly silica, lime and copper, and it was widely used in ancient Egyptian art works at that time, often appearing in the tombs of pharaohs and painted pottery.
Han Blue in ancient China is also a synthetic blue pigment that was widely used in the representational art of the Han Dynasty, demonstrating China's ancient color culture.
In the Americas, the Maya culture developed Maya Blue, a pigment made from indigo dye mixed with a clay called Baligoski, and was used in Mayan pottery and murals Saw his figure. Not only does Mayan blue have color stability, it also plays an important role in religious rituals.
Innovation in modern blue pigments
In modern times, with the discovery of new blue pigments, Western artists began to use these pigments more commonly. For example, Prussian Blue was invented around 1710 and was favored by many artists for its intense deep blue color and lower price than Super Blue. The emergence of this pigment changed the artistic creation style at that time.
The emergence of Prussian blue provided many famous painters, such as Hopstad and Gamble, with more possibilities for artistic expression.
Another important invention was Cobalt Blue, a high-quality synthetic blue pigment introduced in 1803. Because of its vibrant color, cobalt blue quickly became widely used in all types of art, especially in porcelain and glass craftsmanship.
The meaning and symbol of blue
Blue is more than just a color in art and architecture, it carries deep cultural and emotional meanings. In Christian art, super blue is often used to symbolize holiness and sanctity. In folk tradition, blue may be seen as a symbol of calm, trust, and wisdom. These cultural meanings give blue a deeper connotation in artistic expression.
Conclusion
Whether it is historical relics or contemporary works of art, blue has always led our visual senses and attracted people's attention. Its presence in various cultures has multiplied the allure of this color, making it an integral part of painting and design. Will we see more stunning blue pigments in the future?
