Earth color

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A degradation of ocher earth colors by Aborigines in central Australia
Ocher pigment ( Hellocker )

Earth colors are inorganic pigments . They are obtained by grinding from colored minerals or mineral mixtures. Firing can change the color of individuals. For example, yellow ocher turns red when heated (red ocher). Frequently used earth colors are ocher , green earth , red chalk , Terra di Siena , umber and cinnabar .

Some earth colors are variants of iron oxides from natural sources.

properties

Earth colors are lightfast, inexpensive and one of the most common pigments used in oil painting .

Early evidence

Earth pigments have been found in prehistoric rock drawings and cave paintings .

literature

  • Hans Wagner: The body colors . 2nd Edition. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Stuttgart 1939.