Definition

Noun: 1. A specific red pigment or dye: Alizarin crimson refers to a synthetic organic pigment originally derived from the madder plant but now produced chemically. It is characterized by its deep, slightly bluish-red hue and is used primarily in artists' paints and for dyeing textiles. 2. A class of acid dyes: In a broader industrial context, it can refer to any of various related acid dyes used to color wool and other materials a scarlet red.

Usage and Examples

• As an artist's pigment:
  • The painter mixed alizarin crimson with ultramarine blue to create a rich purple.
  • For the portrait's drapery, she preferred the transparency and depth of alizarin crimson.
• As a textile dye:
  • The traditional method used alizarin crimson to dye the wool for the ceremonial robes.
  • This batch of yarn was colored with a modern alizarin crimson dye.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• Permanence: In fine art, genuine alizarin crimson is known to have some issues with lightfastness (resistance to fading) over very long periods. Many modern paint manufacturers offer more permanent "alizarin permanent" or "quinacridone" pigments as substitutes that mimic the original color.
• Historical Context: The original pigment was derived from the roots of the madder plant (). The synthetic version, first created in 1868, was one of the first natural dyes to be produced artificially, revolutionizing the dye industry.

Variants and Related Words

• Alizarin (noun): The key chemical compound (1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone) that is the basis for alizarin crimson and other related dyes and pigments.
• Madder Lake (noun): A historical pigment made from the madder plant, similar in color to alizarin crimson but referring specifically to the traditional, plant-derived version.

Synonyms

• Deep Red
• Rose Madder (specifically for the traditional, plant-based version)

Related Terms and Concepts

• Pigment: A colored material that is mixed with a binder (like oil or acrylic) to create paint.
• Dye: A colored substance used to impart color to materials like fabric, often by soaking.
• Lake Pigment: A pigment made by precipitating a dye with a binder, such as a metallic salt. Alizarin crimson is a type of lake pigment.

Noun

1. any of various acid dyes; used for dyeing wool scarlet red