An illustrated guide to the history and symbolism of colors, as used in artworks throughout the ages, from prehistory to the present day.

Color, which has the power to impart meaning or express emotion, has fascinated humans for millennia. This comprehensive, illustrated guide demonstrates how color—through different periods, cultures, and artistic movements—has been used in art: from the black, red, and white pigments first used in prehistoric cave paintings to the muted tones of Gabonese Punu masks replete with spiritual significance, or from Andy Warhol’s Gold Marilyn Monroe with its flashy hues borrowed from the advertising world to the signature outrenoir (beyond black) of the late Pierre Soulages. From oil painting to optical art, this international history of color unfurls over thirty major periods in the development of color in the arts, elucidating their characteristics, key works, and exponents. The symbolism given to a particular color and how such associations have evolved over time is revealed. Paperback, 224 pages.