Category: Art > Mummy
One of the most fascinating aspects of art history is the story of the color "mummy brown," a pigment that was derived from ground-up ancient Egyptian mummies. In the 19th century, this color became popular among artists for its rich, warm hue, but it carried a controversial secret: it was made from real human remains, specifically the embalmed bodies of mummies. As awareness of its origins grew, artists and the public began to question the ethics of using such a color. By the early 20th century, mummy brown fell out of favor and was ultimately discontinued, replaced by synthetic alternatives that did not involve the macabre practice of using human remains. This shift not only reflects changing attitudes towards art materials but also highlights the complex relationship between art, ethics, and cultural history.
