Voice of Color Cafe » History of Color

From the War of Independence to the French Revolution

Dee Schlotter — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:24:16 +0000

We instantly associate the historical combination of red, white & blue with the birth of the United States flag and the American Revolution. But, do you know where this color trend originated in the late 1700’s? At the time of the War of Independence, which from 1774 to 1776 brought into conflict the American Colonists and their British homeland, the members of the independence movement adopted a “counter-flag”. This counter-flag assumed the colors of the Union Jack (the British flag), but with a new (and independent) design and symbolism. These colors, associated with the American independence, soon became extremely popular with the French Revolutionaries who adopted red, white & blue clothes to exhibit their allegiance to the Republican movement. After the storming of the Bastille, on July 14, 1789, red, white & blue ended up on the Republic emblem, and, eventually, on its flag. Ultimately, red, white & blue, the well recognized colors of the United States and France were, in fact, founded on the colors of the… British flag.

The Brides Dress

Dee Schlotter — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:25:28 +0000

What color do you instantly associate with a bridal gown? White, of course. However, did you know that the bride’s dress has not always been white? Being married in white, to evoke virginal purity, dates back only to the end of the 18th century in Europe. Before then, the young bride-to-be wore her most beautiful dress on this special occasion. For many centuries, especially in Europe’s country class, this favored dress was red. Until the 19th century, red, the color of joy, celebration and pleasure, was the color with which the cloth makers had the most success in dying. The madder, the plant that produced red pigment in its roots, had better results than the pigments used for other colors, such as blue, green, black or white. Fabrics infused with red tended to keep their color, unlike the others, which faded when exposed to sun or water. Ultimately, red always appeared more dense and vivid than other colors. Today, “traditional” marriages are on the decline, but the most popular color for a wedding gown remains white, a color we have been associating with weddings since the 1800’s.

Art & Science

Dee Schlotter — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:05:05 +0000

In order to reproduce the colors of their surrounding worlds, humans of all eras worked with the materials they had within their reach. Prehistoric works of art teach us that some of the first pigments to have been used – and to have survived over time – were iron oxide-based. Some iron oxides can be found in soil and rock in many parts of the world. We recognize traces of iron oxide from the yellowish or burnt orange hues they give to rock. Rust is a well-known result of iron oxide. Although there is no information available to verify how prehistoric artists obtained the brownish yellow color known as ochre, it is suggested that they used the same technique that is used today. Ochre is extracted from ochreous sands by soaking these sands with water. The sands’ quartz settles to the bottom of the container, while the clay and the ochre stay suspended in the water. We need only to collect the liquid and let the water evaporate, in order to collect a fine ochre pigment. There are different kinds of iron oxide, which allow us to produce a variety of colors ranging from yellow to brown, to a burnt orange and bloody red. The art in the caves of Lascaux in France and Altamira, Spain are magnificent examples of the use of these iron oxide-based pigments by our predecessors.

Language of Gemstones

Dee Schlotter — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:31:06 +0000

Since the dawn of time, fascinated by precious and semi-precious gemstones, different civilizations have given them various attributes and particular meanings. This symbolism is intimately related to the interpretation of color symbolism in general. By playing this matching game, we can have fun interpreting the color scheme of a particular décor as a function of the properties of the stones to which it is linked.

Aquamarine

From the Latin “AQUA” signifying water and “MARE” sea

Good luck stone for sailors

Virtue: guarantee of a happy marriage

Evocative of: friendship, sympathy, confidence, harmony, tolerance

Soothes anxiety, stimulates logic and intuition

Amethyst

A stone greatly favored by kings and queens

Symbolizes spirituality (cardinals wear it on their rings, and its sacred character is also recognized by Buddhists)

Promotes harmony, relations with others, spiritual healing

Stimulates intuition and balance

Jade

Royal stone of the Chinese for more than 5,000 years

Its Chinese name “YU” means “something precious”

Assures immortality

Symbol of love, virtue and wealth

Strengthens the body, regenerates the spirit

Enhances success, leads to power

Pink, Eternally Feminine

Dee Schlotter — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:30:06 +0000

When he takes me in his arms, and when he speaks to me, I see la vie en rose. It is difficult to stop this old refrain with its sugary romantic charm from running through our minds, whenever we imagine a décor inspired by pinks and other soft shades. Artists and poets have often chosen pink to describe the feelings of calm and well being that arise from whispered words, tenderness, romantic love, and compassion. On the other hand, in a negative sense, we sometimes associate pink with insipidness. The current popularity of the color pink seems to indicate that we are in need of being comforted in order to smooth over the unevenness of daily life, with its 24-hour a day news broadcasts. Feminine values are on the rise and pink is all around us. But just as a single note is not a song, it is by associating one color with others that we can create an overall picture that is truly evocative. The following propositions are inspired by color combinations belonging to the French Empire style of the early 1800s. This style was popularized by the apartments of Madame de Récamier and the same shades were later cunningly adapted by Coco Chanel, who created timeless fashion collections in delicately balanced hues.

The Wind Rose

Dee Schlotter — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:00:15 +0000

Early and Middle Ages mariners had developed navigational tools and methods based on natural position marks such as astronomical indicators – the apparent position and movement of celestial bodies – and meteorological indicators – the strength and direction of winds. According to some historians, the wind rose has been a constant companion to sailors since the fourth century before Jesus Christ. The Etruscans, it is said, were the first to use the wind rose. Initially simple, made of eight points, the rose became more complex with time. Fifteenth century Portuguese navigators are credited with having improved the rose at the beginning of the golden age of major exploration. These Renaissance men gave us the sixteen-point wind rose. Since then, navigational tools have evolved dramatically. But the wind rose is still with us, although very different from that of Renaissance days. Nowadays, it indicates the direction of major winds as well as their strength and the percentage of time they blow in a given region during a specific period of observation.

Historical Houses

Dee Schlotter — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:01:59 +0000

We just bought a house in Miami and we would like to keep our colors in tune with the history of the house. Do you have any suggestions?

Our Historic Color Statement color card proposes a number of colors intended for homeowners who, like you, wish to highlight the historic character of their home. This card is available at all Pittsburgh® Paints retailers as well as on this site, in the Inspiration Café™ section, by clicking on The Voice of Color® Collections.

The Origins of Magenta

Dee Schlotter — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:15:13 +0000

Originally, the word Magenta referred to a small city in Italy, in a region called Lombardy, where the French and Piedmontese troops defeated the Austrian army in June of 1859. How did it transpire that this name has come to represent this vivid red color, bordering on pink, that we know so well? Near the end of 1859, a new red pigment was discovered that was named magenta red, in remembrance of the blood that had been shed at Magenta that same year. The following year, a new red-pink became very popular in London’s high society and that color was subsequently named red magenta. Had this pigment been discovered but a bit sooner, it may have just as easily been called Waterloo!

Prussian Blue, an accidental discovery

Dee Schlotter — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:21:23 +0000

The story of Prussian blue is a very good example of how scientific discoveries often happen. In the early 18^th century, a Berlin color maker named Diesbach was producing a very nice red in which he used potash, or potassium. One day, he happened to buy potash from a chemist named Dippel. Dippel, an unscrupulous chemist, sold him adulterated potash. Using this substance to precipitate a cochineal concoction to which he added iron sulphate, Diesbach, to his great surprise, did not obtain the expected red but a superb deep blue. Not understanding what had happened, Diesbach turned to Dippel who immediately saw the fantastic business potential of this new blue. Dippel refined Diesbach’s recipe and came up with a deep and solid blue that could be used on large surfaces, something that artists had not been able to find up to that time. Until that time, pigments used in the making of blue where either rare and expensive or not very satisfactory. Hence, blue was not used very much by artists and dyers. The discovery of Prussian blue is said to have contributed to the popularity of blue in the European cultures of the 18^th century, a popularity that remains very strong to this day.

La Commedia Dell Arte

Dee Schlotter — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:13:13 +0000

If you are thinking of redecorating a room but don’t know where to look for inspiration, please read on. Depending on the room you want to decorate and on the atmosphere you want to create in it, you may wish to consider a theme that is of interest to you, and work around it. Think of London, botany, jazz or the theatre! You like theatre, fine. Which period most inspires you? Which style? Do you prefer Hamlet or Harlequin? You answered Harlequin? Then why not take Commedia dell’arte as a starting point? Commedia dell’arte is a form of comedy that started in Italy around 1550 and has influenced theatre and comedy to this day. In Commedia dell’arte, each play is based on a very general plot on which actors improvise in keeping with their character’s personality. Each actor specializes in one character, also called a mask, because most characters’ costumes include a mask made of papier mâché. Typical characters include old men, like Pantaloon, doctors, lovers, like Isabel and Leandre, and servants, like Harlequin or Pulchinella. Commedia dell’arte is everything but serious. Humour is usually expressed through mimics and gestures, and never subtle. Using Commedia dell’arte as a decorating theme would imply using bold or bright colors, exaggerated features, and a lot of fantasy. You could start from accessories like a series of papier mâché masks, or prints of your favorite characters and choose colors from these elements. Of course, you still will have to consider things like the room’s orientation and size, its function, and your budget, but if you are seeking a special effect, don’t be afraid to go for a total look. In any case, just remember to set your imagination free and have fun!