Chromaphilia: The Story of Colour in Art

Author(s): Stella Paul

Art

Unlock the secrets of colour - learn how and why it has been used in art over the centuries


This vibrant and compelling book uses 240 artworks as case studies to tell the story of ten individual colours or colour groups. It explores the history and meaning of each colour in art, highlighting fascinating tales of discovery and artistic passion, and offering easily accessible explanations of the science and theory behind specific colours. From Isaac Newton's optics to impressionist theory, from the dynamics of Josef Albers to the contemporary metaphysics of Olafur Eliasson, this book shows how colour paints our world.


Product Information

"Stella Paul has written a most useful and readable book on the complex subject of color which addresses expertly both its material and affective properties. The many works of art that she illustrates are in her well balanced text not merely data for a clinical examination of color, but a source of sensitive analysis and interpretation."—Philippe de Montebello, Director Emeritus, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

"Find yourself amid a riot of vibrancy and bright ideas... From how artists have discovered new hues to accessible explanations of the science behind specific colours and how they are made."—Homes & Antiques

"A colour-coded journey through the history of art."—Artists & Illustrators

"How do you make blue from rocks? Why do some colours make us feel a certain way? And how have artists drawn on that power through the centuries? Studying 10 colours and over 200 artworks [...] Chromaphilia celebrates art's greatest resource."—Daily Telegraph

"An exciting book. Whether you are an artist, an art historian or simply an art lover, you will find this beautifully produced volume absorbing... Chromaphilia has been produced to a high standard. In a book about colour, image quality is crucial and I wasn't disappointed. Stella Paul's writing is full of ideas, some of which are complex, but she has a gift for clear expression and the illustrations work hand in hand with the text."—FrostMagazine.com

Stella Paul was Educator-in-Charge (Exhibitions and Communications) and Senior Manager of the Interpretative Audio Program (Digital Media) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. She established the Smithsonian Institution's Southern California Center for the Archives of American Art, and has worked as a curator at LACMA.

General Fields

  • : 9780714873510
  • : Phaidon Press Limited
  • : Phaidon Press Ltd
  • : February 2017
  • : 245 mm X 210 mm
  • : United Kingdom
  • : July 2017
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Stella Paul
  • : Hardback
  • : 1
  • : English
  • : 701.85
  • : 296
  • : 240