An opaque water-soluble paint that contains a gum binder and a white pigment such as chalk mixed with a high proportion of colour pigment. When applied to a surface, gouache creates a bold, opaque layer, unlike watercolour, which is translucent. It dries to a matte finish and can be partially altered again using water, unlike acrylic or oil paints which are water-resistant when dry. Used in ancient Egypt, it has been a popular medium through the centuries, notably in Persian and Mughal miniatures. The word gouache also refers to the painting technique and the resultant painting.