Color Theory

Explore articles about Color Theory.

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8 articles in Color Theory

12 min read·June 18, 2026

Color and Culture: How Different Societies Read the Same Colors Differently

White means purity in Western weddings and death in Chinese funerals. Red means danger in the West and luck in China. Discover how cultures read colors differently.

Art History

13 min read·June 16, 2026

The Pantone Color of the Year: History, Influence, and How It Gets Chosen

Pantone's 2026 Color of the Year is Cloud Dancer, a white that encourages true relaxation. Discover how a color company tells the world what to like, and why it matters.

The History of Green: Arsenic Wallpaper, Envy, and Emerald

Art History

13 min read·June 14, 2026

The History of Green: Arsenic Wallpaper, Envy, and Emerald

Victorian green wallpaper was laced with arsenic and it killed people. From Scheele's green to William Morris, discover the deadly history of green in art and design.

The History of Yellow: Van Gogh, Chrome, and a Color That Drove People Mad

Art History

14 min read·June 13, 2026

The History of Yellow: Van Gogh, Chrome, and a Color That Drove People Mad

Chrome yellow gave Van Gogh his sunflowers but it contained lead and darkened on exposure to light. Discover the history of yellow in art, from Indian yellow to madness.

The History of Black: Carbon, Vantablack, and Darkness as Statement

Art History

13 min read·June 12, 2026

The History of Black: Carbon, Vantablack, and Darkness as Statement

From charcoal on cave walls to Vantablack, the blackest substance ever made, discover the history of black in art and the bitter feud over who gets to use it.

The History of White: Purity, Lead Paint, and Negative Space

Art History

13 min read·June 11, 2026

The History of White: Purity, Lead Paint, and Negative Space

Lead white was the only white pigment for 2,000 years and it was toxic. From Malevich's White on White to modernist architecture, discover the history of white in art.

The History of Red: Vermilion, Cochineal, and the Politics of a Pigment

Art History

13 min read·June 10, 2026

The History of Red: Vermilion, Cochineal, and the Politics of a Pigment

Red was the first color humans painted with 300,000 years ago. From Aztec cochineal to Roman vermilion, discover the bloody, political history of red in art.

The History of Blue: Ultramarine, Indigo, and Why the Color Was Once Worth More Than Gold

Art History

13 min read·June 9, 2026

The History of Blue: Ultramarine, Indigo, and Why the Color Was Once Worth More Than Gold

Blue was once the most expensive pigment in the world, ground from Afghan lapis lazuli and worth more than gold. Discover the history of blue in art, from ultramarine to Yves Klein.