gamboge

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Gamboge

A yellow-orange gum-resin produced by several species of Garcinia tree

Manufacturer / product code: Kremer / 37050
Chemical description: gum gamboge. Resin extract from the Garcinia hanburyi tree. Kremer PDF
Color: yellow
Color Index: NY24
More info: Colourlex

Gamboge is one of the most vibrant natural yellow pigments used in art, prized for its luminous, transparent tone and its distinctive warm glow. Derived from the resin of several Garcinia tree species native to Southeast Asia—particularly Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand—gamboge has been harvested since antiquity by tapping the tree’s bark and allowing the viscous sap to harden into solid resin cakes.

The pigment entered artistic practice through trade routes connecting Asia with the Middle East and Europe. In Southeast Asian manuscript illumination and Buddhist painting, gamboge was valued for its spiritual resonance, often used to depict sacred robes, divine figures, and decorative motifs. By the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, it reached European artists, where it found use in glazing techniques, manuscript illumination, and watercolor painting. Because of its intense transparency, artists employed it to warm other yellows, enrich greens, or create vivid highlights.

However, gamboge has a complicated legacy. While visually striking, it is sensitive to light and can darken or fade over time. Its resinous nature also limited its use in oil painting, where it could behave unpredictably. Despite these challenges, gamboge remained important well into the 19th century, especially among watercolorists who appreciated its clarity.