Orange: the color that didn't exist

Botero, Oranges, 2000

Okay, yeah, it has always been there in the light spectrum, and in China and India, it was used a lot in Buddhism and Confucianism as representation of the maximum grade of perfection. In China, it’s the Emperor’s color, since it’s a result of mixing yellow and red, light and fire, sensuality and spirituality, sky and soil.

Meléndez, Stil Life with Melon and Oranges,
ca. 1775

But in Occident, orange wasn’t considered a color. It was either red o a dark yellow. It’s not there in any artwork or clothes. But one good day, the crusaders brought oranges from Arabia, (Even though they are originarily from China) and started to grow them in the Mediterranean. Since then, orange, as a color, appeared to us.

And now there’s orange everywhere, not only on oranges, but also on setting sun, on the Autumn leaves, on molten iron, on some cheese rinds, on carrots and some other fruits…

It’s a really vibrant color and visible from great distances, which is why it’s used in safety vests, in taillights, in lifeboats, to mark toxic substances, or on any other sign of danger. When associated with other color, it enhances their qualities. The blue-orange duo (complementary colors) is the ideal match: energy and serenity.

Delaunay, Rythm: Joy of Living,
1930

Its positive side implies activity, sociability, youth or fun (e.g., clowns wear orange wigs!): in short, it’s related to anything that shows the joys of life. It’s the color of the individualists and extroverts ones. The fruit is also a symbol of fertility, reason for which its flower is present in bridal bouquets.

Negatively, it imploes few seriousness, lightness and impertinence, what doesn’t make it suitable for advertisements or luxury articles or cars.

It is also associated with Netherlands Royal House. When William of Nassau (1533-1584) inherits the Principality of Orange, in Southern France, he receives the name of Oranje and includes this color in his Coat of Arms. This is when it becomes Netherlands’ emblem color, for which it’s their sport uniforms’ color despite not being on their flag. It’s associated with Protestantism, referring to the Dutches who fought in Spanish territories. When William III of Naussau becomes King of England, orange is included in Ireland’s flag, symbol of rebellion against Catholicism.

Van Gogh, Stil Life with Oranges, 1888

And mandarins? They also come from China. Its name was given by Portugueses, referring to the clothes of Chinese public servants, the mandarins.

So now, each time you peel an orange off, remember the long journey it had to travel to have its color accepted as one …

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

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

personal notes