History of Greasepaint in Theater: A Timeline & Innovation

Makeup artists started using greasepaint in theater in the late 19th century.

Specifically, the widespread adoption of greasepaint is credited to Carl Baudin, a German theatrical makeup artist, in 1890. He is credited with inventing the first commercially available greasepaint sticks. While other forms of makeup existed before, Baudin's greasepaint was a significant innovation that became the standard for stage makeup.