"Color History" unveils the captivating stories behind the pigments and dyes that have shaped civilization, exploring color's historical, social, and artistic significance. It demonstrates how hues have influenced diverse aspects of human life, from fashion and art to politics and scientific discovery. For example, purple dye, once painstakingly derived from Tyrian snails, was so valued it became synonymous with royalty.
The book also traces the development and cultural impact of synthetic reds, revolutionary pigments that transformed art and industry in the 19th century. The book examines the origins of color production, cultural symbolism, and color's impact on art and science.
This historical narrative adopts a narrative non-fiction approach, blending scholarly research with engaging storytelling. Starting with the fundamentals of color theory and ancient production methods, the book progresses through specific colors and their historical development, examining both the technical processes and the cultural meanings in various contexts. It concludes by addressing the ongoing evolution of color in modern art, design, and science.
