The extremes meet: the violet

Kandinsky, Violet, 1923

Violet is an ambiguous color in several senses. First, it’s result of mixing red and blue, or in other words, the mixture of passion and spiritualism, of emotions and reason; and on on the other hand, it admits a wide range of tones: from red violet to blue violet, and in some cases, even black.

Due to this range of shades, naming it will vary depending on the cultural context and on the language we are speaking in: is it violet or purple?

This pigment and it’s extracting process is known since 1500 b.C. It was, though, quite expensive: some specific sea snails’ glands were needed, and around 250000 to obtain 1 g. of  dye! (Nowadays the pure pigment would cost 2440 euros per gram) This is why it was always considered a hardly affordable privilege, which led it to be related to power and authority. For example: we can find purple velvet on Elizabeth II of England’s throne and crown. In Ancient Rome, only the Emperor, Empress and the heir were allowed to wear this color; senators were allowed to add this color only on their togas’ borders. The rest of the mortals would be condemned to death if they wore purple. Diocletian (300 a.C.) took the dye techniques and the masters of them to Constantinople, which turns into the centre of a true monopoly that would last until 1453, with the arrival of the Turks. And since that caused the disappearance of the pure violet/purple, it stopped being exclusive for those in power.

For its expensiveness, it’s always been associated with luxury: jewels tend to be presented on purple velvet. Being those commonly for women, purple and violet are said to be feminine: it’ll be hard to find any purple car!

Klimt, Life and death, 1816

Due to its resistance, it’s considered a symbol of ethernity, of divinity and faith. It’s the color of theology and also of Evangelical Church. In case of Catholic Church, it’s used in Advent and Lent, in Masses for the Dead and in Sacrament of Penance. Last one is because it’s the last color of the visible spectrum, the closest one to black, which is darkness and death, and, therefore, it’s sign of penance, fast and wait. As a fun fact: in Middle Age, it was generally used by ageing single women since they were waiting for life while being close to death.

Due to the presence of red, it’s also connected to sensuality and fantasy: we can find it on chocolate’s wrappers. It’s also the color of magic and witches.

Klimt, Emilie Flöge's
Portrait, 1902

By the end of XIX century, it was finally produced in a laboratory and it soon turned into a trend for inner decoration: would you imagine the mysterious atmosphere created by a purple wallpaper in a living room? It was also fashionable in the 70’s, due to rock and to the attempt to overcome the limits of the conscience. You’ve probably heard already about Deep Purple or Purple Rain.

In our next ‘Colors’ post, we’ll talk more about these colors. To be continued.

In case you want to listen to any purple song:

When the deep purple falls

Purple Rain

Welsch,N.-Liebmann, C.Chr. Farben. München, Elsevier V.2004;

Heller, E. Wie Farben auf Gefühl und Verstand wirken. München, Droemer V., 2000;

Gage, J. Color and Meaning. Los Ángeles, University California Press, 1999;

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