naphthol red

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Naphthol red

Used as artists’ pigments from the 1920’s.

Manufacturer / product code: Kremer / 23600
Chemical description: synthetic organic pigment, organic synthetic monoazo. Naphthol. Kremer PDF Kremer PDF 2
Color: red
Color Index: PR170

Naphthol red is a family of synthetic organic pigments introduced in the early 20th century, marking a significant shift from traditional mineral reds to modern industrial colorants. Developed as part of the broader group of azo pigments, naphthol reds were created to offer bright, intense, and affordable alternatives to historic reds such as vermilion, red lead, and natural lakes like carmine and madder. Their invention responded to the growing need for stable, mass-produced pigments suitable for printing, industrial coatings, and artists’ materials in an era of rapid technological change.

By the 1920s and 1930s, naphthol reds had become widespread in commercial paint and printing inks. Their strong tinting strength, vibrant hues ranging from scarlet to deep crimson, and relatively low cost made them ideal for posters, packaging, and decorative painting. Artists gradually adopted them as well, especially in the second half of the 20th century with the rise of acrylic paints, where naphthol pigments provided clear, bright reds that were more affordable and safer than cadmium-based alternatives.

Although not as lightfast as inorganic reds, many naphthol reds offer good stability under normal indoor conditions and excellent handling in water-based media. They became standard in modern acrylic, gouache, and watercolor formulations, contributing to the vivid palettes associated with contemporary art, illustration, and design. Their transparency and high chroma made them valued for glazing, layering, and creating clean mixtures without the muddiness often produced by iron-oxide reds.