Holbein Transparent Watercolors Holbein offers unsurpassed pigment purity, permanence, consistency, and brilliance by reproducing the characteristics of hand-ground pigments of the Renaissance. Holbein grinds its pigments as many as 4 times in gum arabic to highest standards at each stage of production, far exceeding industry standards. European transparent watercolors generally use ox gall as a wetting agent to increase the flow of color on the paper. Holbein produces their colors without ox gall or any other dispersing agent which allows for less movement of the color on paper. The results are more brush control and greater color density control for the artist. Holbein watercolors have a consistent creamy texture for mixing with a deep clear clean color tone which remains brilliant even when watered down to light hues.