“At one time in history, the English word pink referred to a yellow color.
Interesting side note: There is speculation, owing to its greenish yellow tone, that it is derived from the German word pinkeln translated in a dictionary of 1798 as ‘to piss, to make water.’
The color most often known as Dutch pink was ‘a yellow lake prepared from Persian berries or from quercitron and used chiefly as an artist’s pigment,’ according to Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, under the definition of Dutch pink. This color was ‘a light yellow that is greener and slightly darker than jasmine and greener and stronger than average maize or popcorn—called also English pink, Italian pink, madder yellow, stil de grain, yellow madder.’
When we review the literature on Dutch pink, we find that it is a lake pigment made from various organic sources, the most often mentioned is Rhamnus or buckthorn berries. These pigments also contained other yellow dyes, such as fustic, turmeric, weld, dyers’ broom and dyer’s oak. Chemically, the colorants of all these yellow dyes are types of aromatic molecules known as flavonoids. The various yellow dyes all have a very similar appearance and were probably used indiscriminately by color makers and artists.
Note what Robert Dossie in Handmaid to the Arts wrote about Dutch pink:
Of Dutch pink.
Dutch pink is a pigment formed of chalk, coloured with the tinging particles of French berries or other vegetables. It is principally used for coarser purposes in water ; not bearing well to be worked in oil : nor can it be depended upon with regard to its standing so as to be fit for paintings of any consequence.”
This excerpt was posted by Linda N. and can be found in its entirety at: http://www.naturalpigments.com/art-supply-education/pink-was-yellow-paint/
My opinion: I absolutely love Dutch Pink. My favorite use of Dutch Pink is adding it into a variety of sky colors. the color has more depth than Yellow Ochre or Raw Sienna, yet is richer that yellow madder or stil de grain.
Below are examples of Persian Berries, Common Buckthorn Berries, Quercitron nuts, and the powdered extracts that each produce. I have also included a “stil de grain” powder pigment image for contrast and comparison.
Persian Berries (Buckthorn Berries – not the common type that are deep blue as below)
Chene Quercitron nuts
Persian Berry Powder/Dutch Pink Pigment Source
Quercitron Powder/Dutch Pink Pigment Source
Stil de grain pigment/yellow madder color
