Sir Isaac Newton was one of the first scientists to investigate color theory. Around 1671-72 he discovered the origin of color when he shone a beam of light through an angular prism and split it into the spectrum (the various colors of the rainbow).

This simple experiment demonstrates that color comes from light. In fact, that color is light.

Scientists investigate the properties of colour theory whereas artists explore its effects. Color in art can be used in many different ways. Some artists are fascinated by the effects of light; some are interested in the symbolic meaning of color; and some use color to express their emotions.

In short, color theory in art could be summed up by three words: Light, Symbol and Emotion.

 

Color as Light

Impressionist Painting and Claude Monet

 

In Morning Fog, 1893	In Full Sunlight, 1893 (harmony in blue and gold)	In Dull Weather, 1894
Three views of Rouen Cathedral by Claude Monet (1840-1926)

In France at the end of the 19th century, a new style of painting called 'Impressionism' emerged. The Impressionist artists were interested in trying to capture the changing effects of light on the landscape by using a more exact analysis of tone and color. Their ideas were inspired by Eugene Chevreul's scientific research into color theory.

The Impressionist artists abandoned the old idea that the shadow of an object was made up from the color of the object with some brown or black added. Instead, they enlivened their canvases with the new idea that the shadow of any color could be mixed from pure hues and broken up with its opposite color. For example, the shadow on a yellow surface could have some strokes of lilac painted into it to increase its vitality.

Detail of 'Rouen Cathedral In Full Sunlight', 1893

As the Impressionists had to work quickly to capture the fleeting effects of light, they had to sacrifice some of the traditional qualities of outline and detail. Nevertheless, the consequent freshness of the Impressionist technique instinctively appeals to most people, and most painting since has been profoundly affected by it.

Claude Monet, the greatest exponent of the Impressionist style, created several series of paintings exploring the effects of light. The illustrations above are from a series of around twenty paintings of Rouen cathedral (1892-94) which show the building at different times of day, at different times of year and under different weather conditions.

When all the paintings were finally completed in 1895, they were hung together in an exhibition. The painter, Camille Pissarro, was so impressed by their effect that he wrote to his son, "I am sorry you will not be here before Monet's exhibition closes; his Cathedrals will be scattered here and there and they should be seen as a whole.' Sadly this has proved to be true as all have never been exhibited together since.