Which pigments were used to create red and black cave paintings?

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During the Upper Paleolithic period, artists primarily utilized red and black pigments to create cave art.

  • Red pigments: These were typically created using iron oxides, specifically hematite, or natural earth ochres.12
  • Black pigments: These were produced using manganese dioxide or charcoal derived from burnt wood.12

Artists often applied these pigments as solids, similar to chalk, or mixed them with binding agents—such as water, animal blood, plant juices, or egg yolk—to be applied with fingers, brushes, or by blowing the pigment through a pipe.32