"Pith Paper: China’s 3D Watercolor Innovation"

CGTN Europe

Did you know pith paper revolutionized watercolor art? 🎨 This Chinese innovation, made from abundant materials, creates stunning 3D effects by keeping paint on the surface.   A game-changer compared to expensive European paper!   #ArtHistory #Watercolor #Innovation  Read more: https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-04/Pith-painting-The-necessity-that-became-an-art-form-1BrVpOv1K0w/p.html

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00:00Its structure, however, is very different to paper.

00:03Paper is fibrous, pith paper is honeycombed,

00:08and that means that the way that watercolour paint sits

00:13on the pith paper is very different.

00:15The paint doesn't sink into the pith paper

00:18as easily as it does ordinary paper.

00:21It sits on top to create, as you sometimes see,

00:25the three-dimensional effect that pith paper can create.

00:30Most of the paintings before the arrival of pith

00:35were on imported European paper,

00:38which was in short supply and very expensive.

00:42It was a Chinese invention to use something that was abundant,

00:47cheap, and created this three-dimensional effect

00:51as an alternative to very expensive Western paper.

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