Goethe’s Theory of Colour

A groundbreaking text on colour theory, Goethe’s seminal work challenges Newtonian theories to explore the human experience and subjective nature of colour.

First published in 1810 as Zur Farbenlehre, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s classic work took a pioneering approach to colour science, exploring the interplay of light and shadow, the emotional effects of colours and their dynamic relationships. Thoroughly detailed and highly illustrated, The Theory of Colour laid the foundation for modern understanding, with Goethe producing the universal colour wheel that is still referenced today.

Its contents include:
• Effects of Light and Darkness on the Eye
• Dazzling Colourless Objects
• Conditions of the Appearance of Colour
• Achromatism and Hyperchromatism
• Augmentation of Colour
• Physical and Chemical Effects of the Transmission of Light through Coloured Mediums
• Relation to Natural History
• Allegorical, Symbolical, Mystical Application of Colour

Though initially controversial, Goethe’s insights have profoundly impacted art and science, influencing figures like Wassily Kandinsky and the Bauhaus School. This facsimile edition faithfully reproduces Goethe’s original text and illustrations. The Theory of Colours remains essential for anyone interested in the intersection of art, science, and the multifaceted world of colour.