titanium white

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Titanium white

Strongest, most brilliant white available to artists in the entire history of art.

Manufacturer / product code: Kremer / 46200
Chemical description: titanium dioxide. Kremer PDF
Color: white
Color Index: PW6
More info: Pigments Through The Ages

Titanium white is one of the most significant pigments introduced to artists in the modern era. Chemically composed of titanium dioxide (TiO₂), it exists in two crystalline forms—rutile and anatase—with rutile eventually becoming the standard due to its greater stability and lower photoreactivity. Although titanium dioxide was discovered in the late 18th century, it was only in the early 20th century that it began to be manufactured as a pigment. By the 1920s and 1930s, titanium white rapidly gained popularity in the paint industry, and by mid-century had become the dominant white pigment worldwide.

Before its arrival, artists relied primarily on lead white and zinc white, each with important but limited properties. Titanium white transformed the palette: it offered unmatched opacity, an exceptionally high refractive index, a neutral, clean white tone, and—most importantly—excellent chemical and photochemical stability. It was non-toxic, unlike lead-based whites, and resisted yellowing, cracking, and environmental degradation.

From the 1930s onward, titanium white revolutionized modern painting practices. In oil painting, it provided strong covering power and allowed artists to build bright highlights with minimal layers. In watercolors, gouache, and acrylics—particularly after acrylic paints emerged in the 1950s—it became a foundational pigment, essential for mixing, tinting, and achieving luminous pastels. Its opacity made it a favorite in illustration, design work, and contemporary media.

Today, titanium white is ubiquitous in artistic, industrial, and architectural applications. Despite critiques that its covering power can appear “chalky” or too strong in mixes, it remains the most widely used white pigment in the world. In conservation science, its presence is also a key marker for dating artworks to the 20th century or later, making it both a practical pigment and a valuable historical indicator.

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