• Plant Black pigment, a deep, natural black derived from charred plant materials, offering excellent transparency and smooth blending. Highly lightfast and ideal for oil, watercolor, and ink making, it provides soft gradations and subtle warmth. Used historically for fine art, calligraphy, and shading techniques. Finely ground for professional-quality applications. Available in various sizes.
  • Rubens initially painted the family group at the core of the composition on a vertical rectangular central piece of canvas, to which he‚Äîperhaps while still in England‚Äî added strips on all four sides in preparation for the almost square final composition. When Rubens returned to Antwerp in April 1630, he took the still-unfinished family portrait with him. The painting, which remained in his possession, was probably completed by Jacob Jordaens after Rubens's death in 1640.
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Plant Black Pigment

Plant Black Pigment

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Description

Plant or Carbon Black is a handmade single pigment produced through the historical process of charring organic plant material in low-oxygen environments. This deep black pigment has been used for centuries, prized for its ultra fine particle size, strong tinting strength, and subtle, slight transparency. Traditionally derived from burned wood, vegetable matter, or fruit pits, it is known for its cool undertones and rich, velvety texture.


Plant or Carbon Black has exceptional lightfastness, making it highly durable for both classical and contemporary artwork. It blends seamlessly with other pigments, offering deep, harmonious tones in painting. Its high translucence allows for excellent glazing, layering, and shading effects in oil, watercolor, and tempera applications. Compared to Mars Black, it has a softer, more natural appearance, making it ideal for delicate tonal work and historical painting techniques.


History

Carbon-based black pigments have been used for thousands of years, making them one of the oldest known colorants in human history.


During antiquity, early civilizations in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China used soot-based pigments for writing, decoration, and mural painting. The ancient Egyptians formulated carbon black inks for hieroglyphic writing on papyrus, while the Greeks and Romans used it in frescoes, pottery, and cosmetics.


In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, plant-based black pigments were widely employed in illuminated manuscripts, frescoes, and early oil painting. Artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt used these blacks for underpainting and subtle shading in portraiture and landscape work. The pigment's soft, rich quality made it ideal for creating atmospheric effects and shadows. In the pictured artwork 'Deborah Kip, Wife of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, and Her Children' by Rubens, the soft black velvet of the clothing and the shadows incorporate plant black for their deep shades.


By the 18th and 19th centuries, industrial production of carbon black became more refined, and new forms such as Lamp Black and Vine Black were developed. These blacks became widely used in fine art, printing, and industrial applications, maintaining their importance as essential colors in artistic palettes.


Today, Plant or Carbon Black continues to be an important pigment for artists, conservators, and calligraphers who appreciate its historical authenticity and rich, natural depth.


Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural (Carbon-based) from organic material (Charred Wood, Fruit Pits, or Vegetable Matter)

Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Oil, Tempera, Acrylic, Encaustic, Cold Wax, Casein, Milk, Swedish Flour, Lime / Fresco, Ceramics

Lightfastness: Best

Opacity: Transparent

Other Names: Lamp Black, Vine Black, Charcoal Black, Soot Black

Color Index Code: PBk6

Image: 'Deborah Kip, Wife of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, and Her Children' by Rubens in the National Gallery of Art