The color blue is ubiquitous in our world. We see it in the sky and oceans, in the clothes we wear, and in the technology we use every day. But where does this color come from? Who determined the shades of blue that exist? The history of blue pigments and dyes is long and fascinating, intersecting with art, science, trade, and culture across many civilizations. By exploring the origins of different blues, we uncover stories of human ingenuity, global connections, and the quest to capture an elusive color. This article will investigate the writers of every shade of blue throughout history.
Indigo – One of the Oldest Blues
Indigo dye has been used for centuries in many parts of the world. In Asia, indigo was cultivated as early as 3000 BCE. The plant initially grew in India, where the process of extracting the blue pigment and dyeing textiles was invented. From India, indigo dye spread along trade routes to China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. It became an important export commodity in the 17th and 18th centuries as European traders brought indigo-dyed textiles to the West.
Major Indigo Producers Through History
| Region | Time Period |
| India | 3000 BCE – present |
| China | 600 CE – present |
| Central America | Pre-Columbian – present |
| Southeast Asia | 400 CE – present |
Indigo production migrated from Asia to the New World during the colonial era. Central American civilizations like the Maya used native indigo plants to dye fabrics blue. As demand grew in Europe, indigo plantations popped up in colonial America and the Caribbean to supply European textile markets.
Ultramarine – The Precious Blue Pigment
For centuries, no blue pigment was more coveted than ultramarine. Made from crushed lapis lazuli stones mined in Afghanistan, ultramarine was more valuable than gold in Renaissance Europe. The deep blue color was used sparingly by painters to depict the Virgin Mary’s robes and other holy figures. Italian traders controlled the ultramarine trade, charging exorbitant amounts for the pigment.
In 1824, French chemist Jean-Baptiste Guimet discovered a synthetic process to manufacture ultramarine without lapis lazuli. This made the brilliant blue affordable and accessible to all artists. Besides revolutionizing painting, synthetic ultramarine also became used in inks, plastics, and laundry blueing.
Prussian Blue – An Accidental Invention
The first modern synthetic blue pigment was accidentally discovered in 1704 by German paintmaker Johann Jacob Diesbach. He was working with a red pigment called cochineal carmine but the batch turned blue instead. Diesbach had unknowingly created Prussian blue, also called Berlin blue. Iron in the cochineal mixture reacted with potassium to form the vivid blue pigment.
Prussian blue quickly replaced other blue pigments used at the time like indigo and smalt. It had intense coloring power and could be blended to create new shades. Prussian blue was the primary blue for painting until the development of synthetic ultramarine and cobalt blue in the 19th century. It remains an important pigment for paints, inks, and plastics.
Cobalt Blue – Vivid Cerulean Hues
Cobalt has been used to produce brilliant blue pigments and dyes for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians and Chinese colored pottery and glass with cobalt compounds. In 1802, French chemist Louis-Jacques Thénard first created a stable cobalt blue pigment, known as Thénard’s blue. Later refinements to the process resulted in cobalt blue being commercialized in the 1860s.
Cobalt blue offered a cheaper alternative to ultramarine that was also lightfast and mixable. The clear cerulean tones made it a favorite of Impressionist painters. Cobalt remains valued for its intensity and resistance to fading. Modern cobalt blues include cerulean and cobalt turquoise hues.
Maya Blue – An Ancient Blue of Enduring Mystery
The Maya civilization perfected a unique and durable blue pigment known as Maya blue. Used on murals, textiles, and ceramics, Maya blue has astonishing resistance to fading and degradation. It maintains its brilliant color even after centuries of exposure to the elements in the jungle climate. The pigment’s composition was a mystery until the 1990s.
Researchers found that Maya blue is made from palygorskite clay combined with indigo dye. Somehow the mixture creates a sturdy blue pigment unlike other dye/clay combinations. The exact preparation process developed by the Maya still remains unclear. Nonetheless, the distinctive blue color serves as a testament to Maya scientific knowledge and artistry.
Egyptian Blue – The World’s First Synthetic Pigment
Egyptian blue ranks among the first synthetic pigments produced by humans. As early as 2,200 BCE, Egyptians invented a blue glass colored with copper and lime silicate. They learned to grind the glass into a powder to create a durable blue pigment.
Egyptian blue adorned sarcophagi, temple walls, jewelry, and other objects. It was prized for its decorative potential and symbolic associations with the heavens, creation, and rebirth. Egyptian blue spread along trade routes to Mesopotamia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Rome. Although it fell out of use by the 4th century CE, Egyptian blue paved the way for later synthetic pigment development.
Conclusion
Our survey across history reveals how blue pigments arose from scientific inquiry, trade, and serendipity. Each new blue unlocked greater creative possibilities and shaped aesthetic tastes. The quest for beautiful blues spurred major innovations in chemistry, materials science, manufacturing, and color theory. But mystery and mystique still surround the bluest blues, from ancient Maya blue to the dazzling brilliance of YInMn blue discovered in 2009. As long as artists seek to recreate the limitless shades of sky and sea, the search for new blues will continue.
