The story of pigments is a story of chance, experimentation and science. But above all it is about providing human beings with the means with which to express themselves, and this has helped create some of our greatest artistic movements – including the Renaissance, Impressionism and Modernism.

Scientists at Australian National University are in the pink thanks to a new study that identifies the world's oldest color. The team of researchers discovered bright pink pigment in rocks taken from deep beneath the Sahara in Africa.

Early man used earth pigments on cave walls such as yellow earth (ochre), red earth (ochre) and white chalk. Ochres are coloured clays that are found as soft deposits within the earth. Carbon (lamp) black was also used, collected from the soot of burning animal fats.

The first paints As might be expected, prehistoric painters used the pigments available in the vicinity of their homes. These were the so-called earth pigments, soot from burning animal fat and charcoal from the fire. The colours were yellow ochre, red ochre, and black.