tempera

Tempera is a kind of paint with a long story in art. In its traditional form, it is made by mixing pigment with a binder, often egg yolk, to create a fast-drying paint with clear, matte color. Artists used it for centuries, especially before oil paint became more common, and it was important for religious icons, panel paintings, and detailed illustrations.

The word is also used today for the water-based paint often found in classrooms. That modern kind is usually not made with egg, but it shares the same basic idea of a quick-drying paint with strong color. In both art history and everyday use, tempera suggests bright color, careful brushwork, and a finish that is usually more matte than glossy.

Tempera is a type of paint and a painting method in which pigment is mixed with a water-soluble binder. In the traditional and most famous form, that binder is egg yolk, which is why people often say "egg tempera." This medium has a very long history and was widely used in ancient and medieval art, especially for panel paintings, religious icons, and illuminated manuscripts. It remained highly important through the early Renaissance before oil painting became the dominant medium in much of Europe.

One of its main features is that it dries very quickly. Because of that, artists usually apply it in thin layers instead of blending large wet areas together, as they might with oil paint. This gives the surface a clear, controlled, often matte look and makes it especially useful for fine detail. Traditional tempera can also last a very long time when it is used well, which helps explain why many old paintings made with it still survive.

In modern English, the word can also refer to the water-based paint commonly used in schools and crafts. That kind is usually made with other binders rather than egg, but it is still called tempera because it is part of the same general family of paints. So the word may refer either to the historic fine-art medium or to a simple classroom paint, depending on the context.

When you come across "tempera" in art writing, it often points to an older painting tradition known for precision, flat or matte color, and careful layering. In everyday life, it may simply mean washable poster paint for children. The exact meaning depends on where you see it, but the idea of a fast-drying, water-based paint stays at the center.