dyeing linen

[caiusbeerquitius]

But you could get evidence of what the artist saw in contemporary culture in a more general sense.

Basically yes, but it still requires quite a critical approach.

There is a trend for some to engage in a form of "presentism" and attempt to impose our own sense of order on ancient culture. This is very human. There is a trend to see "order" in the Roman legions in terms of the color of their military clothing. Whereas it may make perfect sense to us to see Roman soldiers restricted to one color or another, it may have not been the way the Romans saw things.

I agree.