Basic Color

by Egbert Jacobson

Basic Color: An interpretation of the Ostwald color system by Egbert Jacobson is a volume dedicated to understanding how to use the Ostwald color solid.

Genres: Art

207 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1948

Reviews

[Erika Mulvenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Officially one of my favorite color theory books. An in-depth look at the Ostwald color solid and how to use the system to find and create color harmonies. The author makes it easy to understand Ostwald's system through clear diagrams and examples.

Includes detailed printing of full sections from the Ostwald color solid in a format that allows you to flip back pages to compare any two triangle charts of the 24 basic colors side-by-side.

I can see the appeal of this system to artists, as Ostwald's solid is symmetrical when compared to Munsell - and therefore easier to use to quickly find harmonious combinations.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really glad I read this. It really is a great reminder of the variety of hues possible with tints and shades and tones. But this particularly directs the choices of combinations quite precisely by the amount of black or white in a mixture, and between complementaries in particular relationships as regards percentages of black and/or white. The first part is delectable to read and think about if you're fond of paint. The second part is a real brain buster. At least it was for me. It's still worth reading though. Both for the stimulating thinking about tints and shades. And for me it points towards a symmetry in color quite as precise and mystically suggestive as mathematical harmony in music; something we have not yet understood. It's very interesting.