Painting, Science, and the Perception of Coloured Shadows: 'The Most Beautiful Blue'

Paul Smith's book explores the beauty of colored shadows and their aesthetic and epistemological significance, drawing from art history, psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy. It will interest scholars in art history, art theory, and the history of science and technology.

Format: Hardback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 18 March 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Many artists and scientists, such as Buffon, Goethe, and Philipp Otto Runge, have observed the vibrant and captivating shadows that appear outdoors around dawn and dusk, or indoors when a candle burns under waning daylight. These captivating hues have inspired them to describe their beauty. In his book, Paul Smith delves into the reasons behind these ephemeral effects' deserving appreciation. He explores how depictions of colored shadows hold genuine aesthetic and epistemological significance. This multidisciplinary work combines methodologies from art history, psychology, and neuroscience, as well as the history of science and philosophy.

Art history provides a close pictorial analysis, while psychology and neuroscience explore color constancy theories. The history of science examines the changing paradigms used to explain colored shadows. Philosophy delves into perception and aesthetic value theories, drawing from the works of Wittgenstein and Merleau-Ponty.

This title appeals to scholars interested in art history, art theory, and the history of science and technology. It offers a comprehensive exploration of the visual and philosophical aspects of colored shadows, shedding light on their aesthetic and epistemological significance.

Weight: 588g
Dimension: 179 x 251 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138488090