 |
| Johns, Black numbers, 1958 |
Black isn’t a color either, but a
valeur and the proof is that it emits no light waves: it absorbs them
all. Along with white and red, it’s one of the first colors humans used to
paint: soot, coal, ivory and squid ink were easy to get from nature. They were
still used until XIX c. when black was first produced in laboratory with
aniline.
Since it absorbs all light waves,
it makes rooms seem tinier. It’s the favorite color in design and technology,
since it doesn’t distract us from the object’s functionality. It’s also used in
luxurious articles as sign of elegance, since it refuses any coloring. The
first car was black: Ford T.
Human being has always feared the
night, the darkness, and that gives black a lot of meanings: it’s the color of
evil, of nothingness, of denial, of the illegal, of tragedies and of bad luck.
We constantly refer to it everyday. If somebody is the black sheep of the
family, it’s because they are part of a black list. The crack of 1929 is also known
as Black Tuesday: ¿was it caused by the black economy? And be sure you don’t
come across with a black cat. Do you laugh with black humour? And we could go
on for a long time…
 |
| Braque, Black Birds, 1956 |
It’s also part of the kingdom of death and evil. To Christianism, mourning is followed in black as an expression
without vibrant colors of earthly death. A black flag and a skull are typical
pirate symbols. And bats are sent by the devil, while witches also dress in
black.
During XIV c., the Black Death
(bubonic plague) killed a third of the European population, it was considered a
punishment by God and for which it was needed to do penance. Society then
changed: colors disappeared. The colors in clothes were a sign of wealth and
power, but then people started dressing in black.
 |
| Sánchez Coello, Philip II 1580 |
As easy as it was to find
pigments to paint in black, it was really hard to dye clothes black. When the
Turks defeated Constantinople in 1453, all the secret of the dyers masters were
revealed and the prices got much lower: by then everybody would dress in vibrant
colors. In order to differentiate from the rest, nobility and bourgeoisie
started to dress in black: just like in the Spanish Empire.
 |
| Beckmann, Black Irises, 1928 |
The curious thing is how, despite
the Protestant Reformation, everybody dressed that way. Luther claimed it
alluded to individual responsibility, to perserverance and discipline. When Holland
gets to be a world power, black would still be trendy. Rulers and teachers
would use this color as sign of authority: and some judges still wear like
that.
Until 1900 brides would dress in
black, and only the veil was white. It was impossible by then to have a single
dress for one night, when people used to be able to afford just 2 or 3. That same black dress was also used in funerals or to go to
Mass on Sundays.
And bikers, punks and rockers?
They also use black since it also represents the illegality and transgression.
Apart from this definite case, black is considered one of the most elegant
outfits. It’s impossible to fail: it suits everybody, it’s easy to combine with
other colors and it enhances our personality. Coco Chanel promoted her LBD
(Little Black Dress) in 1930. Fracs and smokings are always black. Black is
timeless, it’s never out of fashion.
 |
| Derain, Stil life with black background, 1945 |
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.
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