A Cultural History of Color in the Age of Enlightenment

The Cultural History of Color in the Age of Enlightenment covers the period 1650 to 1800, exploring how color transformed art, architecture, ceramics, jewelry, and glass, and signaled identity and wealth. Technological advances in color printing resulted in superb maps and anatomical and botanical images. The set of 6 volumes examines how color has been created, traded, used, and interpreted over the last 5000 years, covering themes such as color philosophy and science, color technology and trade, power and identity, religion and ritual, body and clothing, language and psychology, literature and the performing arts, art, architecture and interiors, and artefacts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 02 May 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

A Cultural History of Color in the Age of Enlightenment spans the period from 1650 to 1800, witnessing a profound transformation of art, architecture, ceramics, jewelry, and glass through the Baroque and Neo-classical eras. During this time, Sir Isaac Newton's demonstration of the seven distinct hues using a prism revolutionized the understanding of color, leading to the development of color wheels and tables and the standardization of color names. Technological advancements in color printing resulted in stunning maps and anatomical and botanical images, while color played a significant role in signaling identity and wealth through uniforms, flags, and fashion. The growth of empires, trade, and slavery further influenced the perception of color, with new ideas emerging about its significance. Color profoundly shapes individuals' experiences of the world and the way society assigns meaning to specific spaces, objects, and moments. The Cultural History of Color, a comprehensive 6-volume set, delves into the creation, trade, use, and interpretation of color over the past 5000 years. Each volume explores a different theme, including color philosophy and science, technology and trade, power and identity, religion and ritual, body and clothing, language and psychology, literature and the performing arts, art, architecture and interiors, and artifacts. Carole P. Biggam, an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in English Language and Linguistics at the University of Glasgow, U.K., and Kirsten Wolf, Professor of Old Norse and Scandinavian Linguistics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, serve as the General Editors of the Cultural History of Color set.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 168 x 244 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350460140