The Principles Of Harmony And Contrast Of Colours, And Their Applications To The Arts

by Michel Eugène Chevreul

The Principles Of Harmony And Contrast Of Colours, And Their Applications To The Including Painting, Interior Decoration, Tapestries, Carpets, Mosaics, Coloured Glazing, Paper-Staining, Calico-Printing, Letterpress Printing, Map-Colouring, Dress, Landscape And Flower Gardening, Etc by Michel Eugène Chevreul. This work presents a rigorous theory of color relation and its practical impact on art and decoration. It centers on the law of simultaneous contrast, explaining how adjacent colors alter each other in hue and brightness and how this interacts with surface gloss, lighting, background, form, and viewing distance. It distinguishes complementary from non-complementary associations, and outlines how both can strengthen, purify, or modulate color readings depending on tone height and context. The book examines how to judge complex color ensembles by separating color from form and by analyzing analogy and contrast, while accounting for medium differences between painting (infinitely divisible pigments) and textiles or mosaics (larger color elements). It provides a unified set of design principles—Volume, Form, Stability, Colour, Variety, Symmetry, Repetition, General Harmony, Suitability, Distinct View—and applies them across painting, tapestries, glass, printing, interior decoration, and architecture to guide artists, designers, and critics toward coherent, effective compositions. It also discusses audience reception, novelty versus tradition, and the role of experiments and observation in establishing color laws.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Science

548 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1855

About the author

Michel Eugène Chevreul (31 August 1786 – 9 April 1889) was a French chemist whose work with fatty acids led to early applications in the fields of art and science. He is credited with the discovery of margaric acid, creatine, and designing an early form of soap made from animal fats and salt. He lived to 102 and was a pioneer in the field of gerontology. He is also one of the 72 people whose names are inscribed on the Eiffel Tower; of those 72 scientists and engineers, Chevreul was one of only two who were still alive when Gustave Eiffel planted the French Tricolor on the top of the tower on 31 March 1889 (the other being Hippolyte Fizeau) and was the last living individual born before the French Revolution.

Reviews

[Shine Sebastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very useful and fascinating book about the different phemomenae of colours in relation to each other and the applications these principles have on various forms of art and industry such as painting, print making, gardening, archtecture etc.
This book will offer immence insight and understanding of colours for everyone who reads it, a must read for every visual artist.
( If any of my goodreads friends would like to see my paintings, they can check them out at my fb page, - ' Artist Shine SJ, Kerala ' )

[Erika Mulvenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an exhaustive read. So much detail, so much minutia in endless lists of color harmonies, contrasts, and the like. Still, it was worth it to read Chevreul's ideas and theories about colors and how the interact with each other when viewed by the human eye. I can totally see how this book was a direct influence on Pointillism, Impressionism, and Neo-Impressionism.

I read the Faber Birren edition of this book, and I'd say his extra commentary and information added make this an invaluable book to read. Recommended for any artist, designer or quilter interested in learning more about Color Theory.