kleurdiepen

Kleurdiepen is a Dutch term that may refer to a drawing instrument or technique involving color. There is no single, official definition in dictionaries, so its meaning varies by context. In many cases, kleurdiepen denotes a dip pen used with colored inks or pigments, where the nib is dipped into liquid color to create lines and shading.

Alternatively, some users apply the term to pens that contain colored ink inside the body or to practices of applying color with a pen. In contemporary usage, kleurdiepen often distinguishes colored-line work from black-ink work.

Compared with colored pencils (kleurpotloden), markers, or brush pens, a kleurdiepen emphasizes liquid color and line quality produced by a nib. The technique requires careful dipping, cleaning, and nib maintenance to control color flow and prevent mixing.

Historically, dip pens have been used since the 17th century; colored inks expanded their versatility for illustrators and calligraphers. In Dutch-language art discourse, kleurdiepen remains informal and context-dependent rather than a fixed category.