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The Art of Color: The Subjective Experience and Objective Rationale of Color Hardcover – December 1, 1997

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 49 ratings

In this book, the world's foremost color theorist examines two different approaches to understanding the art of color. Subjective feelings and objective color principles are described in detail and clarified by color reproductions.
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From the Inside Flap

What would the world be without color? A dull, joyless melange of shapes without vital meaning. "Color is life, for a world without color seems dead. As a flame produces light, light produces color. As intonation lends color to the spoken word, color lends spiritually realized sound to form." - Johannes Itten. Over the years numerous color theories have been published: Goethe's theory of color is as famous as Ostwald's color cirlce. Adolf Holzel exercised an important influence on modern art with his theory of color. Now with his ART OF COLOR Johannes Itten makes a contribution. Using Holzel's theory as a springboard, Itten has expanded and developed it along his own original lines. Although never published before, the Itten theory already underlies progressive art education all over the world. In this book Itten examines two different approaches to understanding the art of color. Subjective feelings and objective color principles are the two poles which are described in detail and clarified with numerous color reproductions. The key to this knowledge lies in the color circle and the seven color contrasts which are found on pages 35-109. The problems of visual, emotional and symbolic color effects are carefully explored with numerous color illustrations. The systematic color exercises are followed by outstanding reproductions of paintings by the great masters - 28 large size, four-color plates - which offer insight into all the epochs of Western painting from the early Middle Ages to Klee and Picasso. With each reproduction is one of Professor Itten's famous analyses which proves how conscious awareness and use of color contrast has been an important means of expression. In the chapter, THEORY OF COLOR EXPRESSION (page 130), the psychic and emotional values expressed by color are examined and explained. This gives an extraordinary approach to the understanding of expressionistic painting. Another important chapter, COMPOSITION (page 144), contains the goal of the whole theory of color for the creative artist. It also represents the crowning point of the book for the viewer of art. According to Itten composition implies brining two or more colors together in such a way that they harmonize to give an expression unambiguous and full of character. When preparing the first printing of THE ART OF COLOR in 1960, author and publisher were faced with the problem of finding the most favorable method of producing the difficult color reproductions. It could only be done by producing the various color plates by entirely different printing processes, which had to be done by several printers, and then tipping them into the book.

When a reprinting was planned in 1973, it had by then become possible to make use of the advanced technical developments in offset printing, and the entire book was produced by this printing process. Altogether great care was taken to preserve the excellence of the original edition, Contents and order of pages were retained, some of the illustrations were enlarged and veracity was improved as far as the existing material allowed. Our aim for this new printing was to once again make available in its best form Johannes Itten's color course, while at the same time strictly adhering to his principles of presentation.

About the Author

Johannes Itten (1888-1967) concerned himself with the problems of color all his life. After completing his studies as a teacher, he was able to gain firs knowledge of color theory in Stuttgart, from 1913 to 1916, in the circle of Adolf Holzel. He tested and modified this theory in his own artistic labors, as well as in intensive studies of all available color theories. Johannes Itten treated the problem of color, which present themselves to the painter who works with color as an artist and craftsman the way the scientist explores the physical and chemical properties of color.

The significance of Johannes Itten's own artistic achievements as one of the great contributions to the art of the 20th century is undisputed. His color theory, which was condensed in The Art of Color, convincingly synthesized the knowledge of the great painter and the experience of the progressive educator, two poles that stamped Itten's personality. His theory has been thoroughly disseminated all over the world, in many versions and languages.

The subjective perceptual experience and objective laws of color produce a tension of opposites shown in this book by many examples in color. A comprehensive knowledge of the objective laws is required to grow beyond the subjective laws of color is required to grow beyond the subjective narrowness of conception which is everybody's preliminary approach to the manifestations of color in everyday life and art. Itten fully understood these difficulties. The knowledge of the objective laws of color can be grasped in the color sphere and the seven color contrasts, both of which are derived from the color circle. The problems of impressionistic and expressionistic effects of color are examined in many juxtapositions of examples in color. The foundation of color composition is found through color harmony. After the color exercises, there are reproductions and analysis if the paintings of great masters, old, and new, which testify to the validity of Itten's book and its teachings.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ John Wiley & Sons; 1st edition (December 1, 1997)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0471289280
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0471289289
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.78 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.36 x 0.89 x 11.89 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 49 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
49 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2024
The order was delivered as expected. And in exceptional condition. It was listed as "used- like new" as the seller described, I think better than described. I would definitely order from this seller again. I'm impressed and very happy with this order. Thank you!
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2001
I'd studied physiology and neuroscience, later switching careers from a medical path to that of a designer. I've dived into many sources for my self-education/training. Itten is the grand-master of color; no other book I've read compares to those of Itten. His teachings have enlightened me in ways that I'm amazed by, touching on scientific, psychological, behavioral, and the most personal aspects of color as a study and an experience. It's changed the way I look at my environment, and it's changing the way I use color in my work as a designer.
I'm so impressed with the value this book has had to me, that I bought Itten's book on Form and Design, even though I didn't necessarily feel lacking on those aspects of design. It's rather because of the likelihood in the quality and richenss of knowledge I'll gain, as I did from this book.
61 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2023
The book is perfect, but the dust jacked was much more damaged than shown in the description.
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2013
The Art of Color was purchased as a gift for a dear friend who teaches Color Theory. The book was in mint condition and I was amazed at that. I purchased this particular book because it was recommended as guaranteed by Amazon. It certainly was a good buy.

My friend was "blown away" by the book.

Thank you so much for offering for purchase.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2012
We have both the original printing (1961) and the later printing (1973). The later printing fails to do justice to Itten's principles. The colours in the colour wheel are quite different in the two printings and in terms of principles of colour interaction the colours in the original (1961) printing are far superior. Our rating of 5 stars applies to the 1961 printing.
15 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2011
If youre looking for a book to teach you how to pick and mix colors for painting, this book will do nothing for you. I asked for advice about color theory books on computer graphics forums and was recommended this book many times...what a waste. The entire book is nothing but comments by the author on the use of color in classic paintings. Stupid comments about things that anyone with common sense could observe like: "look at the white robe makes the woman in the foreground stand out against the black curtain. Whats really hilarious about this is that most of the paintings are about historical events in nature where the painter had no other choice but to paint what he saw. Mr Itten seems to think that the painter had control over what people wore in history in order to make their paintings look more dramatic.
8 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2016
When I bought this several years ago it was very expensive and for Kindle. Like, $60 or so. BUT it is the ONLY book about color that I actually got wonderful information I can use as a painter. Worth 10 times what I paid for it. Genius.
6 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2022
Good quality, explanation and photos

Top reviews from other countries

IdealHolmes
5.0 out of 5 stars A great book to have on any artists bookshelf
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 15, 2016
A great book to have on any artists bookshelf. I wonder though if this is a copy of an original as it has the price printed on the inside part of the dust cover. Nevertheless, it was delivered on time and in very good condition.
Jeanne Melville
5.0 out of 5 stars All That I Expected & More
Reviewed in Australia on February 21, 2014
'The Art of Color: The Subjective Experience and Objective Rationale of Color' by Johannes Itten is wonderful. I have wanted to own this book for many years, and the e book format has allowed me that. I was concerned it would not be easy to navigate. The illustrations are clear and the text easily enlarged. It is perfect. Thank you.
Tim S
5.0 out of 5 stars Itten's The Art of Colour realy explanes colour, helping ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2015
Itten's The Art of Colour realy explanes colour, helping to quantify how colours are used and how they shape what we perceive.
sirblurr
5.0 out of 5 stars Better than expected rare book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2015
Quality, excellent condition very pleased