A Companion to Color

A comprehensive exploration of colour in art and art history, with insights from philosophy, psychology, material science, and cultural history.

Colour has long been central to artistic practice, yet its study spans disciplines from science to philosophy. A Companion to Color brings together thirty essays from leading scholars worldwide, offering a multi-faceted examination of colour in art history. Situating colour within a broader intellectual framework, this groundbreaking volume integrates perspectives from material science, psychology, philosophy, and cultural history. It deepens our understanding of the role of colour in artistic expression while highlighting its wider significance in human perception across a variety of contexts.

Structured into six thematic sections, the Companion covers a breadth of topics, from the global diversity of thinking about colour, as examined in Chinese and Indigenous traditions, to scientific investigations of tetrachromacy and the psychology of colour preference. Discussions of materiality explore how pigments and dyes shape artistic practice, while essays on naturalism and autonomy examine the role of colour in movements such as Bauhaus and Colour Field painting. The essays also consider the use of colour in architecture, fashion, and the art market, offering fresh insights into historical and contemporary applications.

• Examines colour from diverse perspectives, combining art-historical analysis with scientific, cultural, and philosophical approaches.
• Investigates materiality and technological advancements in colour, including Technicolor and digital reproduction.
• Addresses the intersection of colour and commerce, including its impact on industrial design.
• Includes discussions on colour in architecture, film, magazines, and contemporary visual culture.
• Offers extensive contextual framing, making it an essential resource for interdisciplinary research on colour.

A Companion to Color is an essential resource for students and scholars in art history, fine art, and visual culture at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It is also invaluable for museum and gallery professionals, curators, and educators seeking to deepen their understanding of colour in artistic practice and cultural history.