The Art of Color : The History of Art in 39 Pigments

In this innovative interpretation of the history of color, Kelly Grovier leads readers on an adventure in search of the fascinating and the unusual. In Grovier's narrative, the meaning of color is never fixed but endlessly evolving. Understanding a pigment and its history unlocks the meaning of the works in which it is used. Grovier uses the term "artymology," suggesting that color is a linguistic tool and pigments serve as syllables in the language of art. Color is a site where conflicts are sparked—past and present, influence and originality, superstition and science intertwine to form complex and profound meanings that enhance our appreciation of a work. For example, how does knowing that the intense yellow moon in Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night was created from a dried lump of urine from cows fed solely on mango leaves change our understanding of this famous masterpiece? Or that the cobalt blue pigment in Van Gogh's sky shares a material lineage with the glazes of Ming Dynasty porcelain? The book comprises ten chapters, each presenting a biography of a color family, unearthing the rich context of pigments from prehistoric cave paintings to contemporary art. The book also includes beautifully designed features that explore significant milestones in color theory from the Enlightenment to the twentieth century.