​Oil paints, one of the most popular and expressive materials in the history of art, weren’t always this way. Their emergence was a true revolution in painting, opening up possibilities for artists that they had never dreamed of. Unlike quick-drying egg tempera, oil paints allowed for seamless transitions, incredibly realistic details, and deep, saturated colors. This technique didn’t just change the way paintings were made; it gave rise to new artistic movements and gifted the world with immortal masterpieces.

​Ancient Origins and a Long-Forgotten Past

​While the flourishing of oil painting occurred in the 15th century, its roots extend into ancient history. Archaeological finds suggest that as early as the 6th-7th centuries AD, Buddhist artists in cave monasteries in Afghanistan were mixing pigments with oil to create their works. However, this technique did not become widespread and was forgotten for many centuries. At this time, European artists relied on egg tempera, which dried almost instantly, making it impossible to make changes during the process or create soft, smooth transitions.

​The Birth of a New Era: The 15th Century and the Van Eyck Brothers

​The real breakthrough came in the 15th century. The invention of oil painting is often credited to the Flemish artist Jan van Eyck. Although he wasn’t its inventor, he made a huge contribution to its perfection. Together with his brother, Hubert, they developed stable and fast-drying binders. This allowed them to create multi-layered, translucent works known as glazes. Applying thin layers of paint one after another gave paintings incredible depth, a luminous glow, and allowed for striking realism and a richness of shades.

​Oil Paints Conquer Europe

​The secrets of the Van Eycks’ mastery quickly spread across Europe. Renaissance artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Titian were quick to appreciate the advantages of the new technique. Thanks to oil paints, they could create works with incredible depth, rich colors, and smooth transitions. The use of oil paints was a true revolution, as it gave artists more time to work on details and enabled them to create images of astonishing depth and realism.

​The Era of Manual Labor and Secret Recipes

​Until the 19th century, oil paints were a product that artists prepared themselves. They bought dry pigments—crushed minerals, plants, and other natural materials—and ground them on a glass slab, mixing them with oil, most often linseed oil. It was a laborious process that required special knowledge and skills. Each artist could have their own “secret” recipe, which made their palette and style unique. In addition to linseed oil, poppy, walnut, and safflower oils were also used, each with its own characteristics. For example, poppy oil yellowed less over time, making it ideal for light shades.

​The Revolution in a Tube: A New Age in Painting

​The invention of the tin paint tube in 1841 was a turning point. Before this, prepared paints were stored in cumbersome animal bladders, which caused them to dry out quickly. The tube allowed artists to take their paints with them, which gave a boost to en plein air painting (painting outdoors). This, in turn, became one of the key factors for the emergence of movements like Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. Artists like Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh were able to create their masterpieces in nature, using vibrant, pure colors that were previously only available in the studio.

​The Development of Techniques: New Possibilities

​Oil paints made it possible to create a multitude of new techniques. One of them was impasto (from the Italian impasto — “thick paste”), the application of paint in thick, textured strokes. Masters like Rembrandt and Van Gogh actively used this technique to give their works expressive texture and dynamism. Another technique that artists discovered was “wet-on-wet,” which allowed colors to be mixed directly on the canvas, a method especially valued by the Impressionists for its ability to convey fleeting impressions and light effects.

​Today, oil paints remain one of the most popular and beloved materials for artists worldwide. Their versatility, durability, and ability to convey depth and expression make them truly timeless.