Orange
The colour orange got its name at
the time oranges first arrived in Europe. The word appeared in
English for the first time in a 1044 poem before passing to common
use some centuries later, as oranges became more readily available
in Europe.
We associate orange with fall
colours, fire, earth and pottery. Despite that, orange does not
evoke the same strong symbolic connotations as its immediate
neighbours on the colour scale, namely yellow and red. It is
variously considered joyful and stimulating like yellow or teeming
with the passion and buoancy of red, although always to a lesser
degree.
As well, expressions do not exist
to enhance the status of orange as is the case for other colours.
This is perhaps a reflection of the few symbolic associations
cultures have developed with orange. In fact, we talk of Gold fish
and red clay when it would be more accurate to describe them as
orange, yet another proof of the secondary role of orange.
Although orange has not achieved a
strong symbolic status, it remains an important colour in matters
of safety, when good visibility is a must. Known for its high
visual impact, orange is used in the manufacturing of a number of
safety-related items such as life jackets, buoys and life
rafts.
La Couleur Nature, histoire et
décoration; Paris, Le Temps Apprivoisé; 1993; 256 page.
Red
Red is often considered "the colour
of colours". In some languages, the words "red" and "coloured" are
synonyms; in other languages, "red" and "beautiful" are
synonyms.
Red excites our senses and
activates blood circulation. It is the colour of passionate love,
sensuality and desire.
Red is joyful. Many
children-oriented products are red: balls, toys, garments, as well
as other products that trigger pleasure like fruit jam, lollies,
etc. Christmas decorations are red too.
Red evokes exuberance, speed and
action. It is no coincidence that so many sports cars are red.
Red and orange are the hues that
are easiest to perceive from a distance. This is one of the reasons
they are used to warn against dangers. They are also the colours of
prohibition. Stop signs and traffic lights are red. Warnings on
medication packages are printed in red.
Red attracts our attention: we use
it to mark students' homework and exams or to show that a certain
product is sold at a reduced price.Red, the colour of blood,
identifies first aid services such as the Red Cross. Also, until
the 19th century, red was used in many of Europe's military
uniforms.
Pastoureau, Michel; Dictionnaire
des couleurs de notre temps; Paris, Christine Bonneton, 1999; 255
pages; Collection Symbolique et société. La Couleur Nature,
histoire et décoration; Paris, Le Temps Apprivoisé; 1993; 256
pages.
Green
In the Middle Ages, green was
considered the colour of calamity and evil, and was associated with
the Devil itself. It symbolized superstition to the point where one
avoided dressing in green.
In western cultures, over time,
people gradually dissociated green from evil. It became a symbol of
fate and randomness, both positive and negative.
In some circumstances, green is
associated with instability, uncertainty and ephemerality, be it in
relation to love, hope, youth or games. One need only think of
gambling tables that have been green since at least the eighteenth
century, billiard tables, ping-pong tables, tennis courts and
football fields. Instability, randomness, victory and defeat all
dress in green.
Among green's virtues: a calming
effect on the nervous system, a feeling of relaxation, an
anti-stress prescription. Green creates a reassuring ambience, a
feeling of comfort and a link with nature.
Green evokes nature, health and a
number of other thoughts. Some expressions we use attest to the
symbolism of green: to give someone the green light (permission),
to be green behind the ears (inexperienced), to be green with envy
(jealous), to have a green thumb (be to a good gardener).
Pastoureau, Michel; Dictionnaire
des couleurs de notre temps; Paris, Christine Bonneton, 1999; 255
pages; Collection Symbolique et sociétéChiazzari, Suzie; The
Complete Book of Colour; Element Books, 1998, 256 pages.
Violet
A combination of red and blue,
colours that display diametrically opposed personalities, violet
and other hues in its family, such as mauve and purple, variously
wrap themselves in cloaks of mystery, richness, refinement,
malaise, trouble or provocation. The violet family suffers from a
split personality that has always generated very different
reactions.
The history of dyes has been marked
by purple, a crimson substance extracted from some species of
mollusks and used, in days of yore, to colour the ornate garments
worn by emperors. Hence the expression purple prose used to
describe ornate writing.
The religious world associates
violet with the Passion of Christ. Easter rites include the use of
complementary colours - violet and yellow - symbolic of lent and
the return of European spring with its yellow crocuses and
daffodils.
In the days of the British Empire,
mauve was the only colour allowed to complement gray, black and
white during periods of half-mourning. The gloomy connotations
attached to the colour may well explain the aversion of fashion
designers for mauve until the middle of the nineteenth century.
During the sixties, the violet
family of colours became very popular. Considered unconventional
and provocative, colours in the violet range stood as the symbol of
a generation of youths in search of freedom. Some still recall
those vivid prints in oranges and magenta!
La Couleur Nature, histoire et
décoration; Paris, Le Temps Apprivoisé; 1993; 256 pages.
Black
In decoration and in fashion, black
is par excellence the symbol of elegance and modernity. We
instantly think of formal dressing and luxury objects; black
represents wealth, refinement, sophistication, and even
mystery.
Black has long been associated with
religious cloth; it also evokes dignity, power and even threat.
Black is the symbol of authority and in clothing its severity is
often used to portray a seriousness deemed necessary in uniforms,
such as in policemen, guards, lawyers or even judges.
Its gravity also holds negative
connotations: we relate it to austerity, and it is, by tradition,
associated to death, mourning, and even gloom.
Modern language often expresses a
seriousness associated with the colour black, however, it is the
ideal complement for shots of colour or for neutrals. To create a
refined décor, or distinguished wardrobe, black is an essential
element to create drama, mystery and formality.
Pastoureau, Michel; Dictionnaire
des couleurs de notre temps; Paris, Christine Bonneton, 1999; 255
pages; Collection Symbolique et société.