††Natural substances have been used for painting since the time of primitive man. He used dyes found in vegetation and the earth to leave lasting impressions on cave walls. He also developed methods of painting himself for ceremonial reasons.
Painted slabs have been found in the Orange River Valley of Namibia. These were painted around 44,000 BC and are the oldest known example of painting found in Africa.
One of the most important advances in paint technology took place around the year 1400 when oil-based paints were invented. This durable and versatile substance was frequently used in Medieval paintings, many of which still exist.
In 1890 it was discovered that most paint used to decorate large surfaces was poisonous because of its lead content. Modern paints can be non toxic, often containing artificial materials such as acrylic. A wide range of different paints are manufactured to be used on anything from cars to bridges to furniture.
