Introduction

Theory of Colours

by Johann Wolfgang von GOETHE (1749 - 1832)

Newton's observations on the optical spectrum were widely accepted but Goethe noticed the difference between the scientific explanation and the phenomena as experienced by the human eye. He did not try to explain this, but rather collected and presented data, conducting experiments on the interplay of light and dark. His work was rejected as 'unscientific' by physicists but his color wheel is still used by artists today. - Summary by Lynne Thompson

Listen next episodes of Theory of Colours:
Aesthetic Influence; Chiaro-Scuro; Tendency to Colour; Keeping; Colour in General Nature; Characteristic Colouring , Allegorical, Symbolic, Mystical Application of Color; Concluding Observations , Completeness and Harmony; Yellow and Blue; Yellow and Red; Blue and Red; Yellow-Red and Blue-Red; Combinations Non-Characteristic; Relations of the Combinations to Light and Dark; Considerations Derived from the Evidence of Experience and History , Harmonious Colouring; Genuine Tone; False Tone; Weak Colouring; The Motley; Dread of Theory; Ultimate Aim; Grounds; Pigments , Objective Experiments - Section XXI - Refraction Without the Appearance of Colour; Section XXII - Conditions of the Appearance of Colour , Part 2 - Physical Colours - Section IX - Diotropical Colours , Part I - Physiological Colours Section 1 - Effects of Light and Dark on the Eye , Part III - Chemical Colours - Section XXXIV - Chemical Contrast , Part IV - General Characteristics , Part V - Relation to Other Pursuits , Part VI - Effect of Colour With Reference to Moral Associations; Yellow; Red-Yellow; Yellow-Red; Blue; Red-Blue; Red; Green , Pathological Colours - Appendix , Section II - Effects of Black and White Objects on the Eye , Section III - Grey Surfaces and Objects; Section IV - Dazzling Colourless Objects , Section L - Minerals; Section LI - Plants , Section LII - Worms, Insects, Fishes; Section LIII - Birds , Section LIV - Mammalia and Human Beings , Section LV - Physical and Chemical Effects of the Transmission of Light Through Coloured Mediums; Section LVI - Chemical Effect in Dioptrical Achromatism; , Section V - Coloured Objects , Section VI - Coloured Shadows , Section VII - Faint Lights; Section VIII - Subjective Halos , Section X - Diotropical Colours of the First Class , Section XI - Diotropical Colours of the Second Class - Refraction , Section XIV - Conditions Under Which the Appearance of Colour Increases , Section XIX - Achromatism and Hyperchromatism; Section XX - Advantages of Subjective Experiments. - Transition to the Objective , Section XLII - Inversion; Section XLIII - Fixation; Section XLIV - Intermixture, Real; Section XLV - Intermixture, Apparent , Section XLVI - Communication, Actual; Section XLVII - Communication, Apparent , Section XLVIII - Extraction; Section XLIX - Nomenclature , Section XV - Explanation of the Foregoing Phenomena , Section XVI - Decrease of the Appearance of Colour; Section XVII - Grey Objects Displaced by Refraction , Section XVIII - Coloured Objects Displaced by Refraction , Section XXIII - Conditions of the Increase of Colour; Section XXIV - Explanation of the Foregoing Phenomena , Section XXIX - Combination of Subjective and Objective Experiments; Section XXX - Transition , Section XXV - Decrease of the Appearance of Colour; Section XXVI - Grey Objects ; Section XXVII - Coloured Objects; Section XXVIII - Achromatism and Hyperchromatism , Section XXXI - Catatropical Colours , Section XXXII - Paroptical Colours , Section XXXIII - Epoptical Colours , Section XXXV - White; Section XXXVI - Black; Section XXXVII - First Excitation of Colour , Section XXXVIII - Augmentation of Colour; Section XXXIX - Culmination; Section XL - Fluctuation; Section XLI - Passage Through the Whole Scale , Subjective Experiments - Section XII - Refraction Without the Appearance of Colour; Section XIII - Conditions of the Appearance of Colour