Discover how the color blue evolved from a rare and sacred pigment to a powerful tool of artistic expression - from medieval altarpieces to modernist experiments.
From the cobalt glazes of ancient Egypt to Yves Klein's bold monochromes, blue has carried meanings both sacred and subversive across eras.
Along the way, blue has been a symbol of power and purity, of sorrow and transcendence. This book traces how those meanings, symbolism, and iconography shifted through the evolving availability of pigments such as lapis lazuli, indigo, and synthetic ultramarine.
Designed for visual impact and intellectual clarity, the fascinating juxtaposition of art from all periods and all continents invites readers to look closely at masterpieces both surprising and familiar -and to reconsider how a single color has reflected and reshaped the human experience.
| ISBN: | 9783791394299 |
| Publication date: | 3rd March 2026 |
| Author: | Hayley EdwardsDujardin |
| Publisher: | Prestel an imprint of Prestel Publishing |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 108 pages |
| Genres: |
Colours and colour theory Theory of art |
Discover how the color blue evolved from a rare and sacred pigment to a powerful tool of artistic expression - from medieval altarpieces to modernist experiments.From the cobalt glazes of ancient Egypt to Yves Klein's bold monochromes, blue has carried meanings both sacred and subversive across eras. Along the way, blue has been a symbol of power and purity, of sorrow and transcendence. This book traces how those meanings, symbolism, and iconography shifted through the evolving availability of pigments such as lapis lazuli, indigo, and synthetic ultramarine. Designed for visual impact and intellectual clarity, the fascinating juxtaposition of art from all periods and all continents invites readers to look closely at masterpieces both surprising and familiar -and to reconsider how a single color has reflected and reshaped the human experience.A lovely gift edition exploring the significance and symbolism of the color blue.Includes 40 iconic works including Monet, Picasso, Vermeer, Yves Klein and more.Shows how artists have used blue to evoke emotion, atmosphere, and reimagine the world.Each artwork is paired with a thoughtful reflection on its making and meaning.Each piece also shows how the pigment was sourced and applied at the time.Readers will see how a color, once costly and elusive, became central to artistic practice, both materially and metaphorically.
Blue features in the following genres: Colours and colour theory, Theory of art
Hardback. £17.09, down from the £18.99 cover price. In Stock.
Blue was written by Hayley EdwardsDujardin and published by Prestel an imprint of Prestel Publishing
Blue has 108 pages
£17.09, reduced from £18.99. In Stock.