Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which pigments were used to create red and black cave paintings?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Paleolithic Period
The Venus of Willendorf, a Upper Paleolithic limestone figurine originally colored with red ochre, 30,000ā25,000 bce, found at Willendorf, Lower Austria; in the Natural History Museum, Vienna.
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 agentsāsuch as water, animal blood, plant juices, or egg yolkāto be applied with fingers, brushes, or by blowing the pigment through a pipe.32