Colour and Meaning (Paperback) /anglais

by GAGE JOHN

Is colour just a physiological phenomenon? Does colour have an effect on feelings? This study argues that the meaning of colour, like language, lies in the particular historical contexts in which it is experienced. Three essays introduce the subject, and the remaining chapters follow themes of colour chronologically, from the early Middle Ages to the 20th century. Topics covered include medieval colour-symbolism, the earliest history of the prism, Newton's optical discoveries, 19th-century psychologists and colour, and 20th-century literature on colour in art.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Design, Art History, History, Science

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 1999

Reviews

[Lydia]

A classic, academic treatment of color, with a good overview of color from 1500s-mid-1900s. Quoted by many studying painters' use of color. Valuable for me were the descriptions of the various color theories used by Turner, Kandinsky, Matisse and Seurat. I found it more useful on a second read through. I note Architect's Journal back cover review says, "Erudite but Accessible." Exactly.

[Pat]

Just skip back to the last few chapters beginning with Turner. I hate books about color that have reproduced paintings in black and white. What are they thinking!

[Ben McFarland]

An interesting read, if a bit disorganized. Gage is critical of Berlin and Kay, although the criticism seems more like nit-picking than a real takedown argument. Modern art discussions include Kandinsky and blue, and Matisse and black. There's no real arc to the book, and it sort of just ends, but it does focus on the substantial connections between color and meaning without getting caught up in academic rabbit-trails. Not as much science as the subtitle implies, too.

[Jill Elise]

I'll begin with the fact that this book probably wasn't meant for me. As someone expecting a breakdown of color's psychological/cultural implications, I was a bit disappointed when it focused more on the science of creating colors and various artists' use of color.

Did I still find interesting points? Absolutely. The first few chapters were very interesting, and right up the alley I was expecting. And when we hit the refraction/color spectrum unit in Astronomy, I was already prepared. (Funny how these things work out.)

But, a lot of this went over my head. Which is the fault of the reader, rather than the fault of the writer. That said, I am confused about the whole black-and-white photos thing in a book about color....

[Ollie]

Well it's taken me nearly half a year to finish this book, but I finally finished it. Knowing what I know now, I would not have read part one. For me it was very dull and hard to get past. Part two was far more interesting for me.
I imagine this would be a good place to start looking for references for an art essay. But I wouldn't recommend this book if you're looking for color theory, because I didn't get much of that from this.

[Sergio Mira Jordán]

Fantástico. Un completísimo ensayo sobre el color y sus significados a lo largo de los siglos.

[Ben Scott]

my favourite book of last year

amazing

everyone should read

revelationary

[JayeL]

November 2014: available at SFPL, PLS