PAINT – WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Painted furniture is now very much in vogue although the history of painted furniture dates back centuries. Charting the origins of paint adds some insight into the appeal of paint on wood with painted French and Swedish antique furniture leading the way in today’s interior design world. The earliest evidence of paint dates back over 40,000 years, seeing prehistoric humans decorating cave walls with images of animals, humans, and their surroundings. Good examples of these can be seen in the Lascaux Caves in France and the Blombos Cave in South Africa.
These early paints were made from natural pigments derived from earth minerals like iron oxides producing red and yellow hues, and a deep colour from manganese dioxide. While chalk offered white pigments. These pigments were ground into fine powders and mixed with binders like water, animal fat, or plant juices to create a paste consistency perfect for painting.
Ancient Civilisations and the Advancement of Paint
As civilisations developed, so did the sophistication of paint. In ancient Egypt, for example, artists typically would use a palette of six primary colours. white, black, red, yellow, green, and blue. These colours were made using minerals like malachite (green) and azurite (blue). These colours can be clearly seen on tombs, statues and decorative objects of the period.
Alchemy and Artistic Expression
Moving further forward in history to the middle ages, the production of paint became closely associated with alchemy. Artisans and alchemists of the period experimented with various materials, including rare minerals like lapis lazuli, which was ground into the highly prized ultramarine pigment. Due to its high value, this pigment in particular was reserved for high status work due to its cost and beauty.
During the same period in Europe, the use of an egg tempera became a popular medium. By mixing pigments with egg yolk, a fast-drying paint was produced creating a smooth finish. This type of paint dominated western art until the 15th century when oil paint began to emerged.
The Rise of Oil Paint
It was Artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Jan van Eyck during the renaissance, who revolutionised painting with their use of oil paint. Simply explained, oil paint is a medium made by suspending pigments in linseed oil. Oil paints gave the advantage of creating real depth and realism in any artwork although with the disadvantage of a slow drying time. It was also at this time the pigment production became more specialised with skilled craftsmen preparing paints. This produced a level of consistency and quality demanded by the artists of the time.
The Industrial Revolution and Modern Paint
With the advent of the industrial revolution, paint production took on a whole new story with the introduction of synthetic pigments like Prussian blue and chrome yellow. It was also at this time that mass production of paint began, making it accessible not just to artists but also for decorative and protective purposes in architecture. It was at this time that much of the French antique furniture we see today was produced and painted.
To Sum up
Paint is now very much an integral part our most people’s lives, whether it be redecorating a home or for use in more industrial applications. Paint has certainly come a long way from its humble earth pigment beginnings.