Prussian Blue: an Artistic and Diagnostic Odyssey

From an alchemist's accident in 18th-century Berlin to a stain we still rely on in diagnostics today, Prussian blue has had quite a journey

To trace the history and significance of Prussian blue, from its accidental discovery to its applications in art and pathology.

Prussian blue was discovered accidentally when contaminated potassium salts were mixed with iron sulfate.
The pigment provided a stable and affordable alternative to ultramarine.
Prussian blue enabled Japanese artists to achieve richer colors and tonal ranges.
The Perls Prussian blue stain remains a key diagnostic tool for evaluating iron in liver pathology.

The reliability of Prussian blue in forensic pathology for dating hemorrhage is debated.
Overinterpretation of results can lead to diagnostic pitfalls.