AsfeaturedonBBCWorldwideAcaptivatingnewhistoryofarttoldthroughthestoriedbiographiesofcolorsandpigmentsInthisrefreshingapproachtothehistoryofcolor,KellyGroviertakesreadersonanexcitingsearchfortheintriguingandunusual.InGrovier’stelling,acolor’sconnotationsareneverfixedbutareendlesslyevolving.Knowledgeofapigmentanditshistorycanunlockmeaningintheworksthatfeatureit.Grovieremploystheterm“artymology“tosuggestthatcolorisalinguisticdevice,wherepigmentsstandinforsyllablesinart’slanguage.Coloristhesiteofinvigoratingconflict--abattlegroundwherepastandpresent,influenceandoriginality,andsuperstitionandsciencemergeintomeaningsthatcomplicateandintensifyourappreciationofagivenwork.Howmightitchangeourunderstandingofawell-knownmasterpiecelikeVincentvanGogh’sStarryNighttoknowthattheintenseyellowmooninthatpaintingwassculptedfromclumpsofdehydratedurinefromcowsthatwerefednothingbutmangoleaves?OrthatthecobaltbluepigmentinVanGogh’sskysharesamaterialbloodlinewiththeglazeofMingDynastyporcelain?Consistingoftenchapters,eachpresentingabiographyofafamilyofcolors,thisvolumeminesarichveinofpigmentationfromprehistoriccavepaintingtoartofthepresentday.ThebookalsoincludesbeautifullydesignedfeaturesexploringimportantmilestonesinthehistoryofcolortheoryfromtheEnlightenmenttothetwentiethcentury.
