For centuries, pigments made from minerals, plants and other natural materials have given color to art, architecture and decoration. Behind each color lies a process of sourcing, grinding, mixing and making, along with knowledge passed down through generations. Today, many traditional pigments and the skills behind them are becoming increasingly rare. 

In this episode, our host follows color from historic interiors and artworks to contemporary studios and pigment workshops. Along the way, we encounter historic recipes, restoration techniques and the symbolism carried by colors such as Blue Verditer and Cinnabar Red. We also discover how contemporary makers are finding new possibilities for pigment, including transforming urban waste into sustainable color.

From historic restoration to contemporary experimentation and one of the world’s oldest artists’ color shops, the episode explores the relationship between pigment, craft and cultural memory. It asks how traditional colors can be preserved, reinterpreted and given new life, keeping the knowledge behind them in use for generations to come.