This was a thoroughly fascinating book, and incredibly well researched. (Check the nearly endless bibliography at the back of the book if you have any doubt!)
In a nutshell, color, particularly in textiles, was rare and valuable until the early parts of the last century. Amazing that what we now take for granted was beyond our great-great grandparents wildest imaginations. The masses dressed in dull vegetable dyes of beige, muddy yellows, and greys. Only the wealthiest could afford brilliant colors, and wearing it was the ideal way to flaunt their wealth and status.
This book takes us from the discovery in "New Spain" (Mexico) of cochineal, a crushed insect dye which yielded a never before seen brilliant red color. Spain built an empire on cochineal, and went through great lengths to keep the origin of the dye a secret. Ms. Greenfield explores the far reaching effects of cochineal on history: empire building, piracy, espionage, scientific advancements (and infighting), the connotations of red through history, even exploring perceived racism and class distinctions based on lack of color, and later, when the tables turned, a surfeit of color.
Who would have ever though that something as simple as "red" would inextricably tangle itself in history in such a way? Red. Red? Red!
An excellent read for anyone with an interest in history, fashion, textiles, or science.
No comments:
Post a Comment