What Color Is Ochre? About Ochre Color

Are you curious about what color is ochre? We share information about the ochre color here.

What Color Is Ochre?

A clay pigment called ferric oxide, often known as rust, produces a range of brown, yellow and red colors known as ochre.

In fact, it was among the first colors used by humans.

Earth pigments comprising hydrated iron oxide fall under the category of “ochre” colors. Painters have employed ochre pigments since their commercial creation in the 19th century.

Originally, they did this to substitute rare and valuable natural counterparts, but later to create a light color of their own.

Potters and other artists throughout the world have used ochre for centuries in their clay.

The native communities of the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa were among those who used ochre to decorate their homes.

Historical Use of Ochre Color

In ancient times, a variety of cultures around the globe employed yellow and red ochre colors.

The Blombos Cave site in South Africa has ochre, etched abstract motifs that date back roughly 75,000 years ago.

The Red Lady of Paviland, a 33,000-year-old ochre-coated burial in Wales, dates back to the Paleolithic period.

Paleolithic sites in Pech Merle, France, and Altamira, Spain, both have animal paintings painted with red and yellow ochre paints.

And a picture of a horse painted in yellow ochre in the cave at Lascaux is roughly 17,300 years old.

There is some evidence to suggest that red ochre paints appeared in Neolithic funerals as symbols of a return to the ground.

Another theory suggests they symbolized ceremonial rebirth, with the hue presumably representing blood and a presumed Great Goddess.

Aside from its association with immortal and impenetrable gold in Ancient Egypt, the color yellow also symbolized fertility and prosperity.

The gods’ bodies were said to be comprised of gold, including their skin and bones.

Egyptians frequently used yellow ochre in tomb paintings. Although they occasionally used orpiment, which was exceedingly deadly since it contained arsenic.

Men in tomb paintings typically had brown skin and women had skin that was yellow ochre or gold in coloration.

Women in Ancient Egypt used red ochre on their lips as a gloss or rouge.

The northern portion of the Aswan Stone Quarry’s Unfinished Obelisk has ochre-colored lines identifying labor areas.

And the Ebers Papyrus from Egypt, which dates back to around 1550 BC, mentions the medical use of ochre clays.

How to Use Ochre in Designing Your Home

According to some sources, ochre may have been the first hue ever used in painting.

Natural ochres, which are made up mostly of hydrous iron oxide, appear in a wide spectrum of colors, including yellow, red, brown, and orange.

Elegant, classy, and noble are all words that come to mind when you think of ochre.

If you’re looking to give your interiors a professional look, you can’t go wrong with ochre paint, floor tiles, or textiles like upholstery and curtains.

Ochre in Fashion

Colors like ochre are unique in that they appear in nature, but have blended into human fashion trends.

This color appears to be of high quality and has a distinct style of its own.

It makes use of golden brown tones, which look best on hair, skin, fabric, and other home décor and furnishings. The hue imparts a sense of earthiness and sincerity to the wearer.

It was a few years ago that Gina Laurie’s Living Color book on how to incorporate color into your wardrobe was one of the most popular resources for fashionistas who wanted to maximize what they already possessed and broaden their color palettes.

People didn’t use the term “ochre” in their personal or professional outfits since it wasn’t fashionable at the time.

It’s helpful that Laurie outlined her four favorite color schemes for each of these categories: earth tones, pastels, accent colors, and primary colors, as well as the solids and prints that match well with each.

Conclusion

When it comes to a complete overhaul or a fast refresh, integrating a new accent color into your home or wardrobe is simple and effective.

Ochre might be the best accent hue for your home if you want to give it a sophisticated and refined feel.

Hope you enjoyed learning about the ochre color.