Watercolor paint is an ancient form of painting, if not the most ancient
form of art itself. In East Asia, watercolor painting with inks is
referred to as brush painting or scroll painting. In Chinese, Korean and
Japanese painting it has been the dominant medium, often in monochrome
black or browns, often using inkstick or other pigments. India, Ethiopia
and other countries have long watercolor painting traditions as well.
Many Western artists, especially in the early 19th century, used
watercolor primarily as a sketching tool in preparation for the
"finished" work in oil or engraving. Until the end of the eighteenth
century, traditional watercolors were known as 'tinted drawings'.
Sourced from:
Wikipedia