The Science of Pigments: Inorganic Colors in Art

Inorganic pigments are made from minerals and metal compounds, giving art long-lasting color.
Ancient Egyptians used malachite (green) and azurite (blue) to decorate tombs and temples.
The deep red of iron oxide has been used as pigment since prehistoric cave paintings.
Ultramarine blue, once more valuable than gold, came from crushed lapis lazuli.
Cobalt compounds provide brilliant blues, still used in ceramics and glass today.
Lead-based pigments like lead white were common in classical art but are now avoided for toxicity.
Pigments work by absorbing certain wavelengths of light and reflecting the rest as visible color.
Titanium dioxide, a modern pigment, makes whites in paint brighter and more opaque.
Inorganic pigments are often more lightfast and durable than organic dyes.
From cave walls to canvases, inorganic pigments are the chemistry behind human creativity.