The Formation of Color Theory Scientific and psychological explainitions

Color Theory and the Ancient World

Color Theory and the Ancient World Empedocles (492-431 BC) Through observation determined color is perceived, not the property of the object. Democritus (?460-431 BC) First atomic theory: color was the result of atomic arrangements. Plato (428-347 BC) Worked with perception of reality. If color changes based on the viewer, how can we determine the true color of objects.

Aristotle (384-322 BC) De Coloribus ( the first know book about color) Composition and relationship of color. Derived from the blending of sunlight, fire, light, and lack of light. Hue identification- white, black, red, yellow, brown, violet, green, blue. Proposed the mixing of white and black with these hues resulted in all colors.

Leonardo Da Vinci Mathematician, scientist, artist (1452-1519) Treatise on Painting, 1651 Simple (primary) colors: white, yellow, green, blue, red, black. Ranked color: white- light, yellow- fire, green- water, blue-air, red- fire, black- total darkness. 1st to… Create system of primary colors arranged in order Direct contraries intensify each other (complements) Certain responses take place when colors are placed next to each other (simultaneous contrast)

Sir Isaac Newton mathematician, physicist 1643-1727 Opticks, 1704 Interested in the physics of color, not the perception. Newton discovered measurable, mathematical patterns in the phenomenon of color. He found white light to be a mixture of infinitely varied colored rays (manifest in the rainbow and the spectrum)

Newton’s Color Wheel Based on additive color Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe German writer, poet, philosopher, and scientist: 1749-1832 Theory of Colors, 1810. First modern thinker to record the function of the eye rather than the properties of light. Opponent to Newton’s physics of light. Explored every aspect of color: Complementary color Simultaneous contrast Successive contrast Effects of cast light Proportional color

Goethe Color Triangle Goethe Color Wheel

Notables Philip Otto Runge J.C. Maxwell Michel Eugene Chevreul German painter: 1st 3D color model J.C. Maxwell Scottish physicist: concepts of additive color. Extensive work with spinning discs and pioneer to modern-day photography Michel Eugene Chevreul French chemist: (dye master) The Principles of Harmony and Contrast of Colors All hues could be obtained from mixing primaries (red, yellow, blue) Established the laws of: simultaneous contrast, successive contrast, and optical mixing. Ewald Hering German physiologist and psychologist Theories of color perception Psychological Primaries: the primary colors of vision. Red, yellow, blue, green

Albert Munsell American-born color theorist: 1858-1918 Color Notation, 1905 Color describe by three variables Hue, value, chroma Expanded the primary hues- principle colors Red, yellow, blue, green, purple Adopted by the US Bureau of Standards as the acceptable language of color Created a system for color standardization in art

Munsell Tree Gradation of value along the vertical axis Gradation in saturation/ chroma along the horizontal branches The equator of the solid shows the hues Munsell notation: 1st number and letter= hue 2nd number= value 3rd number= chroma 5R5/14= pure, middle-value red

Wilhelm Ostwald German Chemist, 1853-1932 Nobel prize winner Color model based on geometric progression 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32… All colors are a combination of hue, black, white Created the term Tint: addition of white Shade: addition of black

Two triangular solids joined at one side with black at one point and white at the other. 24 pure hues at the equator.

Johannes Itten Swiss artist, teacher: 1888-1967 The Art of Color/ The Elements of Color- 1961 Bauhaus instructor- approached education both physically and mentally. Used Runge’s color sphere but placed yellow at the top (brightest)

Itten’s 6 basic contrast of color: Light-dark Cold-warm Complementary Simultaneous contrast Quality or Saturation Quantity or Extension

Josef Albers 1888-1976 Teacher at the Bauhaus. Refined Itten/ Kandinsky At Yale, Interaction of Color- 1963 Much of his work was based on simultaneous contrast. “Homage to the Square”- investigate infinite color combinations and their reactions. Explored materials beyond painting/ printmaking

Louis Prang German immigrant, printer:1824-1909 printer and developer of a four-color printing process known as chromolithography in the 1860's. (the father of the American Christmas Card) Prang's system was the first workable system to reproduce color in print. The Prang Color Wheel arrangement was also used by Johannes Itten in his work on color. An outspoken advocate for bringing art into the classroom through the introduction of products like watercolor paints. More democratic ideas of who should have access to art.

Prang or Artist’s Color System Primaries: red blue