There have been suggestions that the presence of toxins in paints is to blame for some of the erratic behavior exhibited by artists (e.g. Van Gogh’s ear). Many artists crushed and mixed their own pigments and was/is not uncommon to use your lips to smooth the tip of the brush.
In addition to the blue of cobalt and bright white of lead, cadmium makes a lovely red, barium a yellow, mercuric sulfide also red or orange, chromium oxide a green... so many lovely pigments from beautiful toxins.
In addition to the blue of cobalt and bright white of lead, cadmium makes a lovely red, barium a yellow, mercuric sulfide also red or orange, chromium oxide a green... so many lovely pigments from beautiful toxins.