Three white paints over dark stripes: lead white and titanium white hide them; zinc white lets them show through as gray. Below, bars show lead white from antiquity (the main white until about 1900, less used after), zinc white from 1834 (as a watercolor) and titanium white from the 1920s.

Concept · The Painter's Colors

Whites

For most of history the painter's white was lead white, made by letting vinegar fumes corrode strips of lead.

It is dense, covers well and helps oil dry. Zinc white covers less and in oil can contribute to cracking; titanium white covers best of all.

  • Lead white is poisonous; the US banned lead in household paint in 1978.
  • Tube "titanium white" often contains some zinc white too.

See

Image: Made for this site · Original work

8 / 50