Historical pigments, dyes and binders

Artistic creation has accompanied the development of mankind since the beginning. Color as the appearance of things perceptible with the eye is fundamental for the creative process. For the longest time in the past, the use of color was characterized by often very complex manufacturing processes that required the greatest inventiveness and complex knowledge of comprehensive interrelationships from the user. Existing knowledge was passed on and used again and again, but the basic color materials were always further developed and sensitively adapted to the differentiated areas of application and needs. Today, paint coats and, in some cases, extensive collections of recipes provide us with evidence and ideas about these processes in previous times. In this context, it is important to understand that paint recipes were treated like valuables and secrets in the past. The present overview offers insights into the world of historical pigments, dyes and binders. However, a complete overview is not possible at this point due to the diversity of sources, the individual work processes and the different application requirements.