Which statement about egg tempera is accurate?

• A. It uses egg yolk as a water-soluble binder; dries quickly in thin layers.
• B. It uses oil as a binder and dries slowly.
• C. It uses gum arabic binder and is always opaque.
• D. It is identical to oil painting in technique.

Answer: (A)

Egg tempera relies on egg yolk as the binder for pigment, mixed with water. Because the binder is a protein in the egg, the mixture is water-soluble when wet but forms a firm film as the water evaporates and the proteins coagulate. This causes the paint to dry quickly, especially in thin layers, so artists work with precise, fine strokes and many short applications rather than broad, slow-blending washes. It’s distinct from oil painting, which uses drying oils and takes much longer to dry, and from media based on gum arabic (like some watercolors). So the statement correctly identifies the egg yolk binder and the quick drying in thin layers that characterizes egg tempera.