cobalt yellow

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Cobalt yellow

Introduced in 1852, it replaced gamboge, the yellow gum used until the 19th century. It remained popular until the late 19th century, when cadmium yellow became popular.

Manufacturer / product code: Kremer / 43500
Chemical description: potassium cobaltinitrite
Color: yellow
Color Index: PY40
More info: Pigments Through The Ages

Cobalt yellow, also known as Aureolin, is a 19th-century synthetic pigment introduced around the 1850s as a stable, luminous alternative to traditional yellow colorants. Chemically it is cobalt potassium nitrite, a compound discovered during research into cobalt salts and quickly adopted by artists for its unusual combination of transparency and permanence. Its soft, slightly greenish yellow was unlike the warm earth yellows or the stronger chromes of the period, offering painters a gentler, more atmospheric option.

In art, cobalt yellow became popular among late 19th- and early 20th-century painters for glazing effects, delicate highlights, and naturalistic light passages. Its low tinting strength and high transparency made it ideal for subtle layers, watercolor washes, and nuanced tonal transitions. Although not as intense as cadmium yellows, Aureolin gained value for its excellent lightfastness and its ability to maintain clarity without darkening over time.

Today it is still used, especially in watercolor, where its cool, luminous character and reliable stability make it a refined choice for artists seeking a soft, permanent yellow.

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