The Origins of 7 of Your Favorite Art Supplies | Britannica
Paintbrushes are one of the earliest art supplies. They were used as early as the Paleolithic Period. Examples can be seen in caves in Spain and France and in early Egyptian tombs. Paintbrushes have been made of animal fibers such as hog bristles or horsehair, and more modern brushes are made of nylon fibers, polyethylene, or even wire.