zinc white

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Zinc white

Zinc white was accepted as a watercolor by 1834 but it was some years later before its difficulties in oil were overcome.

Manufacturer / product code: Kremer / 46300
Chemical description: zinc oxide. Kremer PDF
Color: white
Color Index: PW4
More info: Pigments Through The Ages Colourlex

Zinc white is a white pigment composed of zinc oxide (ZnO), introduced into artists’ materials at the end of the 18th century and widely adopted during the 19th century as an alternative to toxic lead white. It is characterized by a cool, slightly bluish tone and a lower hiding power compared to lead white, which gives it a more transparent and delicate appearance in mixtures. Zinc white was especially appreciated for subtle highlights, glazes, and pale tints, as it does not yellow significantly with age and shows excellent resistance to sulfur-containing pollutants. Chemically stable and relatively inert, zinc white is compatible with most pigments and binders. However, its use in oil painting has proven problematic: zinc oxide forms brittle zinc soaps that can lead to cracking, delamination, and increased fragility of paint layers over time. For this reason, its presence is of particular concern in conservation studies. Zinc white is more reliable in watercolor, gouache, and acrylic media, where mechanical stresses are reduced. Its identification is common in 19th- and 20th-century artworks and often provides valuable chronological information.

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