Blog assignment 5

How has the experience and experimentation of artists influenced our understanding of colour and the development of theory of ‘colour vision’?

Originally, Newton’s master theory about light and colour was unchallenged, until Goethe introduced his findings. One of his main discoveries was how people saw colour not only as a result  of light bouncing off of objects. He realised that we individually interpreted what we saw, which impacted the outcome. He placed great importance on how the eye perceived things and criticised Newton for having ignored the impact of reflection. He stated that “colour is essentially an interplay of reflections” and “from light, shade and colour we construct the visible world.” (p.209)

Goethe believed that Newton referred to theory too much as opposed to practicality. As he remarked “Newton's error... was trusting math over the sensations of his eye."

Drawing from Goethe’s understanding of our perception of light and colour, impressionists took their inspiration. This new form of art also drew on ideas of optical colour mixing.

Based off the knowledge of Newton, and the additional findings of Goethe, the theory of ‘colour vision’ was born. In effect this is a combination of both theorists’ findings. 

Gage, J. (1993). Colours of the Mind in Colour and Culture: Practice and Meaning from Antiquity to Abstraction (pp.191-212). New York: Thames and Hudson.