Goethe's Theory of Colors: With Notes (1840)

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Goethe's Theory of Colors: With Notes (1840)

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Charles Lock Eastlake

4.08 · rating details · 111 ratings · 6 reviews

By the time Goethe's Theory of Colours appeared in 1810, the wavelength theory of light and color had been firmly established. To Goethe, renowned author and theatrical figure, the throery was the result of mistaking an incidental result for an elemental principle. Far from pretending to a knowledge of physics, he insisted that such knowledge was an actual hindrance to und...moreBy the time Goethe's Theory of Colours appeared in 1810, the wavelength theory of light and color had been firmly established. To Goethe, renowned author and theatrical figure, the throery was the result of mistaking an incidental result for an elemental principle. Far from pretending to a knowledge of physics, he insisted that such knowledge was an actual hindrance to understanding. He based his conclusions exclusively upon exhasutive personal observation of the phenomena of color.

Of his own theory, Goethe was supremely confident: "From the philosopher, we believe we merit thaks for having traced the phenomena of colours to their first sources, to the circumstnaces under which they appear and are, and beyond which no further explanation respecting them is possible."

Goethe's scientific conclusions have, of course, long since been thoroughly demolished, but the intelligent reader of today may enjoy this work on quite different grounds: for the beauty and sweep of his conjectures regarding the connection between color and philosophical ideas; for an insight into early nineteenth-century beliefs and modes of thought; and for the flavor of life in Europe just after the American and French Revolutions.

The book does not have to be studied to be appreciated. Goethe's subjective theory of colors permits him to speak most persuasively of color harmony and aesthetics. In some readers these notions will evoke a positive response on their merits. Others may regard them as pure fantasy, but savor the grace and style of their exposition.

The work may also be read as an accurate guide to the study of color phenomena. Goethe's conclusions have been repudiated, but no one quarrels with his reporting of the facts to be observed. With simple--vessels, prisms, lenses, and the like--the reader will be led through a demonstration course not only in subjectively produced colors, but also in the observable physical phenomena of color. Whenever we use the wave theory to predict what colors will be perceived under non-daylight, the theory falls down badly. By closely following Goethe's explanations of the color phenomena, the reader may become so divorced from the wavelength theory--Goethe never even mentions it--that he may begin to think about color theory relatively unhampered by prejudice, ancient or modern.(less)

Paperback, 484 pages

Published June 28th 2008 by Kessinger Publishing (first published 1839)

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May 11, 2011

Jan Ingemansen rated it

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Shelves: visualization

Only book on color you'll ever need!

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Oct 27, 2008

Anthony rated it

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Shelves: science

Goethe plays a game of marbles with his eyeballs. You can join him, but you have to play by his rules; and they won't always be fair. I wasn't able to follow along with most of the demonstrations because I didn't have prisms, colored glass and candles handy... this book should really come with a little lab kit.

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Jul 11, 2008

Tracey rated it

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Shelves: art, prolific-authors

Of course this compliments Liane Collot d'Herbois and is basically essential groundwork understanding, foundation for the paint-therapy work, but really quite interesting for anyone.

Enjoy-

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Jun 17, 2008

Archer marked it as to-read · review of another edition

recommended by a bearded and bespectacled youth with a studious aspect on the sf muni (or was it boston? I think it was sf)

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Jul 13, 2008

Kevin rated it

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Shelves: brain-symbol-experience, bio-astro-geo, philosophy, painter

beyond whatever goethe could imagine via fiction

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Aug 25, 2008

Lisa rated it

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the detail of perception

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Feb 04, 2012

Amanda marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: art, colour, reference, wishlist

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About Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer. George Eliot called him "Germany's greatest man of letters... and the last true polymath to walk the earth." Goethe's works span the fields of poetry, drama, literature, theology, humanism, and science. Goethe's magnum opus, lauded as one of the peaks of world literature, is the two-part drama Faust. Goethe's other well-known literary works...more

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