The Old Holland Oil Color Factory was established in 1644 and is still continuing its tradition; the oldest artist's paint factory in the world. These oil paints are still manufactured according to the 16th century methods and under the supervision of artists. The old Dutch Masters used Old Holland paint. All of these colors are manufactured using stone rollers which don't change the color of the paint. Only the purest virgin cold-pressed sunbleached linseed oil is ever used. In the classic Old Holland colors no fillers such as cheap chalk, barium sulphate, aluminum hydrate powders or wax are used. The resulting benefits to the artist using the classic colors are greater covering power, strength of color and the superb intensity of classic color. The paint is packed in soft lead tubes with a thin layer of pewter, as opposed to an aluminum tube which oxidizes within 15 years. Lead tubes last a lifetime. Since this paint consists of pure pigments and oil as opposed to industrialy manufactured paints, it cannot be filled mechanically in tubes because the paint is too sticky. The filling of the tubes is done by hand; tube by tube. If Old Holland classic colors seem too strong in color mixing, try mixing the colors with a white oil paint first.