News
Scientists Recreate Ancient Egypt’s Prized Blue Pigment
The researchers shared their surprising findings in a new study that highlights the importance of using science to examine art and antiquity.
color
Books
The Delightfully Saturated History of Color Charts
Three tomes give new meaning to “full color” by chronicling the visual history of color charts, swatches, palettes, and more.
Books
A Beautiful Guide to Colors in the Natural World, Revisited 200 Years Later
"Nature’s Palette" reproduces the groundbreaking color systems and illustrates them with lush engravings.
Test 2018 posts
The Histories of Ten Colors Through Multiple Lenses
Rather than merely tracing a visual history of determined hues, On Color considers them across multiple disciplines, including film and literature.
Test 2018 posts
An Early 19th-Century Flower Painter's Guide to Identifying Colors of the Natural World
Published in 1814 by a Scottish flower painter, 'Werner's Nomenclature of Colours' was one of the world's first systemic taxonomy of colors.
Books
A Collection of 3,000 Pigments Made from Cow Urine, Shells, Insects, and More
The Forbes Pigment Collection contains samples of material that represent all shades of the rainbow — plus brown, white, black, and metallic.
Art
The Enjoyable Conundrum of Color in 20th-Century European Design
Blissfully, there are no overly odious attempts at scientific explanation of color, just a wide gamut of art and craft achievements to experience and appreciate.
Art
From Farty Red to Le Cute White, an Algorithm Generates Absurd Color Names
Earlier this week, research scientist Janelle Shane posted the results of an experiment where a neural network generated some less-than-appealing paint swatch names.
Books
The Regal, Bloody, and Fiery History of the Color Red
Michel Pastoureau's new book tackles the complicated history of the color red, from regal hue of kings to scandalous shade of harlots.
Art
Egyptian Blue: The First Synthetic Pigment
The first human-made blue pigment emerged in ancient Egypt, then disappeared for centuries until it was rediscovered in Pompeii.
In Brief
The Art World Called It: Greenery Is Pantone's Color of the Year
The perennial paint purveyor is championing "a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring" as the defining tone of 2017.
News
Harvard Adds the Blackest Black to Its Historical Pigment Collection
Harvard Art Museums acquired a sample of Vantablack, a material that absorbs almost 100% of light.