Material
Gouache
An opaque, water-based paint with a high pigment content that typically dries to a matt surface.
- Category
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- Index letter
- G
Understanding the term
Gouache resembles watercolour, but its higher pigment load and possible addition of white make it more opaque. Light tones can sit over dark ones, and dry paint can often be reactivated with water, requiring care around framing and moisture.
Gouache is more than the name of a raw material. It affects form, weight, surface, durability and the way an object ages, making it central to both experience and assessment.
Look for variation in colour and texture, joins, wear and later repairs. Natural evidence of making and age should be distinguished from damage; that distinction is essential when describing older art and design.
Related entries
Continue through the glossary with terms from the same field.