Some were used for a long time. They are of natural origin, extracted from plants (madder-coloured, indigo), of shells (purple), of Caterpillars (cochineal), but their synthesis was realized only in the XlXe century.

However, the majority of pigments used nowadays were discovered to the XIXth century.
They are diverted from some coal tars, the benzene, the naphtalène and the anthracène being raw materials indispensable to their manufacture.

Used for their coloring powers and opacifiants in the preparation of the paintings and coated...