 |
| Malevich, White Square on white square, 1918 |
White is not a color: it’s the
sum of all lights. We say in painting that it’s a
valeur (take a look at this
post); however, we perceive it as a color. In fact, we as painters use a lot of
white: we buy it in large tubes and it’s a must on our palette. We mix it with
other colors, use it for the last layer of light, but also as background on our
canvases.
There is no absolutely pure
white: since it reflects every light wave, it’s quite unstable and variable.
This also affects our psychological perception.
It’s the opposite to black:
ying-yang, day-night, light-darkness, angel-demon, Snow White and the witch.
Due to being the light of all
lights, it’s associated with day and divinity. The Goddesses Juno and Isis
always wear this color; like Heracles and Appollo. Resurrected Christ also is
represented wearing white clothes. Baptism and First Communion clothes are
white and priests wear it in special festivities. The Pope dresses in white and
Kings use it in their coronations. Angels’ clothes and Holy Ghost’s Dove are
also white.
 |
Modigliani, Luina Czeschowa
with white shirt,1919 |
It’s a symbol what begins and of
perfection. It’s not coincidence that in chess or checkers, white starts.
However, it also represents the end. The dead are dressed in white as a sign of
the wait for Resurrection. This also explains why ghosts and spirits are also
white. In some asiatic cultures it’s the color of mourning: it shows the
dissolution in the Universe of the individuality of the one saying bye to their
loved one, awaiting for reincarnation.
It’s a sign of cleanliness and hygiene: those working in Health care or food processing have
white uniforms. And going further, the innocent and sinless: Lamb of God,
Immaculate Conception, the bride’s dress.
A white shirt is formal and shows
status, professionalism. While there were no washing machines and
stain-removing detergents, only those not getting dirty during work or part of
some higher social rank could mantain a clean shirt everyday. Labourers and
peasants could only wear gray, blue or brown.
 |
| Johns, White flag, 1955 |
A white flag was risen in Middle
Ages’ hospitals to show nobody had died that day. Or in jails, to show that
there were no new arrests. Nowadays it’s a sign of a war surrender with no
conditions.
It’s related to lightness and
emptiness. We wear it during Summer against heat. Due to snow and ice, it also
reminds us of cold: this is why many frozen products are packaged in white. In
cooking, it´s connected to several flavours: rice, sugar, salt, flour, bread,
milk… from which only milk and salt are naturally white, unlike the rest, which
have to go through an artificial whitening process.
And those with white hair are
respected for their life experience and wisdom...
 |
| Monet, The cart, Road to Honfleur, 1867 |
Sources: Welsch,
N.-Liebmann, C.Chr. Farben. München,
Elsevier V., 2004;
Heller, E. Wie Farben auf Gefühl und Verstand wirken.
München, Droemer V., 2000;
notas personales
