“Goethe’s Theory of Color” is a book by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, published in 1810. In this book, Goethe explored the subjective experience of colors and challenged the common Newtonian understanding of colors as an objective property of light.
The image in this article was painted by Joseph Karl Stieler in 1828.
What Does Goethe’s Theory of Color Contain?
Goethe’s Theory of Color is a theory about colors developed by the German writer, scientist, and philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in the late 18th century. The theory challenges the more common Newtonian view of colors as a property of light and instead considers colors as a phenomenon of the interaction between light and darkness. According to Goethe’s theory, colors are the result of the interaction between light and darkness, rather than being an inherent property of light itself. He argued that colors arise when light and darkness meet and create a dynamic balance between them.
Goethe perceived colors as a polarity between light and darkness. He believed that the character and quality of colors depended on how light and darkness interacted with each other. For instance, a color would appear brighter when surrounded by darker colors and darker when surrounded by lighter colors.
Goethe also viewed colors as vivid and dynamic, believing that they had a psychological and emotional impact on humans. He thought that colors were not just visual phenomena but could also influence our mental and emotional state.
Goethe’s Theory of Color includes the following key points:
- Colors result from the interaction between light and darkness: According to Goethe, colors emerge when light and darkness come together and create a dynamic equilibrium between them.
- Colors are polarities of light and darkness: The character and quality of colors depend on how light and darkness interact. Goethe considered colors to be living and dynamic, with a psychological and emotional effect on people.
- Colors are subjective experiences: Goethe regarded colors as subjective experiences that could only be described through human perception and experience.
- Colors can be classified into groups: Goethe divides colors into two groups – primary colors and compound colors.
- Colors can have symbolic meanings: Goethe believed that colors could hold symbolic significance and represent different emotions and thoughts.
The book is known to have had a significant influence on art, science, and philosophy. The theory challenges the prevailing scientific view of colors and advocates for a more holistic and subjective approach to understanding the significance and impact of colors.
Symbolic Meanings of Colors According to Goethe
Here is a description of each color and its significance according to Goethe’s Theory of Color:
- Red: Red is the color of warmth and passion. According to Goethe, red can evoke a sense of activity and liveliness, but also anger and aggression.
- Yellow: Yellow is the color of happiness and joy. Goethe believed that yellow can convey a feeling of lightness and clarity, but also jealousy and envy.
- Green: Green is the color of calmness and harmony. Goethe associated green with a sense of balance and stability, yet also with jealousy and mistrust.
- Blue: Blue is the color of tranquility and depth. According to Goethe, blue can evoke a sense of calmness and clarity, but also melancholy and depression.
- Purple: Purple is the color of mysticism and spirituality. Goethe believed that purple can inspire creativity and imagination, but also lead to oversensitivity and anxiety.
- Orange: Orange is the color of enthusiasm and energy. According to Goethe, orange can bring feelings of excitement and warmth, but also shallowness and impulsiveness.
- It’s important to note that these color interpretations are based on Goethe’s subjective experience and not on scientific research. Therefore, they should not be considered absolute or universally true, but rather as a possible way to understand and think about colors.
Goethe’s Legacy in the Study of Colors
Several of Goethe’s ideas about colors remain relevant today and have influenced modern theories of colors and color science. Some aspects of Goethe’s Theory of Color that are still acknowledged today include:
- Subjective experiences: Goethe argued that colors were subjective experiences dependent on our individual perception and experience. This idea remains relevant and has been further developed in modern color theories and color science.
- Psychological and emotional effects: Goethe believed that colors had psychological and emotional effects on people. This aspect is still significant in the field of color psychology and color therapy.
- Colors as a phenomenon of the interaction between light and darkness: Goethe saw colors as a phenomenon resulting from the interaction between light and darkness. While this might not be the most common understanding of colors today, it still holds relevance in certain theories of color perception and color science.
- Anthroposophy: Waldorf schools and other communities that follow Rudolf Steiner’s teachings are deeply rooted in Goethe’s principles and ideas about colors. Read more about Rudolf Steiner’s color symbolism here: Rudolf Steiner’s Color Symbolism: Inherent Properties of Colors.