The History of Watercolor

Watercolor is a beautiful and diverse medium that has a long history. In fact, the use of watercolor dates to as early as the Stone Ages in the Far East! The most notable instances of watercolor in this time period were located in France, Egypt, and numerous regions in Asia. In approximately 15,000 BCE, the Lascaux Cave became decorated with the intricate Paleolithic paintings that it is known for today. There are upwards of 600 of these paintings that mainly depict animals such as horses, deer, and bison, which is explained in this article about the Lascaux Cave.

Lascaux Cave painting. (c. 15,000 BCE).

The Egyptian use of the early forms of watercolor were similar to that of the French, however the places that the paintings were located are more extensive. The Egyptians would paint on tombs, temples, and papyrus, which is a type of paper made from the pressed stem of an aquatic plant. These paintings were also more refined and detailed, often having colorful depictions of pharaohs and hieroglyphics in addition to animals. The famous watercolor paintings of the early Egyptians happened thousands of years after those seen in the Lascaux Cave. For example, the following piece is believed to have been created in 1275 BCE according to this analysis on early Egyptian art. The Egyptians made these paintings as a way to signify the eternity of life and the value of community.

Ancient Egyptian papyrus. (c. 1275 BCE).

Watercolor in Asia was used in an entirely different way. In China and Japan, the earliest use of watercolor was ink wash paintings, mainly landscapes, and calligraphy. The paints were used on silk and paper. In addition to the more reformed materials that were used as canvases, the paints were also made in a more reformed and sophisticated way as the base was now an ink substance. In ancient times, watercolor paints were a mixture of earthy pigments such as clay and charcoal. In the Lascaux Cave article, it is said that people would grind the pigments and create a watered-down mixture that they could use to paint, applying the mixture with their fingers, bones, or ‘paintbrushes’ that were made from hair or moss. 

When looking at the history of watercolor, it is interesting to look at the advancements made from the range of colors to the creation of paintboxes that everyone is familiar with today, like the one pictured above.