• Monet’s earlier paintings of the Normandy coast had emphasised it as a working seascape, peopled with fishermen who had to contend with a cold climate, choppy seas and stormy skies. But this painting and the eight others he made in the summer of 1870 show it as a holiday destination, with wide sandy beaches, bracing air and impressive seaside architecture. Monet painted it during the weeks he spent at Trouville with his wife Camille and their son Jean.
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Golden Ochre

Golden Ochre

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Description

Golden Ochre is a natural earth pigment made from iron oxide-rich clay deposits from the Carpathians, selected for their warm, golden-yellow to amber tones. Carefully sourced and finely ground, this ochre captures the glow of sunlit fields and ancient walls, offering a deep, rich warmth that bridges the gap between traditional yellow and red ochres.


In watercolor, Golden Ochre produces smooth, semi-opaque washes with a natural granulation and soft luster. In egg tempera, fresco, and oil painting, it provides a glowing warmth ideal for skin tones, backgrounds, landscapes, and underpainting. It blends beautifully with earth reds, muted greens, and mineral blues, making it a foundational color for historical palettes and naturalistic painting.


History

Ochres have been some of the most widely used pigments throughout human history, from Paleolithic cave paintings to Renaissance masterworks. Golden-toned ochres, in particular, were valued for their versatility, representing fertile earth, ripened grain, and divine light across a variety of cultural and artistic traditions.


In medieval and Renaissance Europe, golden ochres were staples of manuscript illumination, panel painting, and fresco decoration. Their stability, affordability, and beautiful matte texture made them indispensable to artists seeking natural, harmonious palettes. In the pictured artwork 'The Beach at Trouville' by Monet, light yellow ochre is used for the pastel and soft tones of the sand on the beach.


Today, Golden Ochre remains a beloved and essential pigment for artists seeking warmth, permanence, and a direct connection to the oldest traditions of color-making.


Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural earth pigment from iron oxide-rich clay

Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Egg Tempera, Oil, Acrylic, Fresco

Lightfastness: Excellent

Opacity: Semi-opaque to Opaque

Other Names: Yellow Ochre (Golden Tone), Gold Ochre, Natural Earth Yellow

Color Index Code: PY43

Image: 'The Beach at Trouville' by Claude Monet from the National Gallery