Brown Ochre

Description

Brown Ochre is a natural, handmade single earth pigment made through a ancient historical process of grinding raw earth from the rich deposits of France. This pigment is created through traditional methods of extraction, drying, and fine grinding, preserving its historical authenticity and warm, earthy tones.

Brown Ochre is a deep, warm brown with excellent opacity and lightfastness, making it a versatile and durable pigment. It has been used for centuries in fresco painting, oil painting, and tempera, providing natural, muted tones that blend harmoniously with other earth pigments. Its rich iron oxide content ensures a stable, long-lasting color that remains a favorite among artists seeking natural and organic hues.

Compared to synthetic browns, Brown Ochre offers a unique depth and subtle tonal variation, making it ideal for underpainting, shading, and creating warm, naturalistic effects in paintings.

History

Brown Ochre has been used as a pigment since prehistoric times, appearing in some of the earliest known cave paintings, including those in Lascaux, France. Ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians and Romans utilized brown ochre in murals, ceramics, and architectural decoration. In the pictured artwork 'Venus and Adonis' by Titian, brown Ochre is used extensively to create the earth tones throughout the landscape and figures.

During the Renaissance, brown ochre became a fundamental pigment in the palettes of European artists, often used for underpainting and subtle shading in portraiture and landscape painting. The ochre quarries of France, particularly in the Vaucluse and Roussillon regions, became renowned for producing some of the world's finest ochres, supplying master painters with this rich, earthy tone.

By the 19th and 20th centuries, brown ochre remained a staple in both fine art and industrial applications. Today, it continues to be valued for its historical significance, warm natural hues, and ability to create depth and realism in artwork.

Health and Safety

Precautions:
Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Do not consume.
Not for cosmetic or food usage.
Do not spray apply. 
For further health information contact a poison control center.
Use care when handling dry pigments and avoid dust formation.
Use particular caution with fibrous, fine, or toxic pigments. 
Do not eat, drink, or smoke near dry pigments. Avoid breathing in pigment dust and use a NIOSH-certified dust respirator with sufficient rating for dry pigment. 
Wash hands immediately after use or handling. 
If dust is likely, always wear protective clothing to keep out of eyes, lungs, off skin, and out of any contact as well as keep area ventilated.
This product may contain chemicals known by the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm.
Warnings and bottle information are abbreviated.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural (Iron Oxide) from minerals (Goethite and Hematite) (France)  
Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Oil, Tempera, Acrylic  
Lightfastness: Best  
Opacity: Semi-opaque  
Other Names: Burnt Ochre, Natural Brown Earth, French Brown Ochre, Ochre Brown 
Color Index Code: PY43
Image: 'Venus and Adonis' by Titian from the Getty