Theory of Colours

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Art, Design & Architecture Astronomy, Physics & Mechanics

42 chapters8h 58mEnglish1840

About this book

Newton's observations on the optical spectrum were widely accepted but Goethe noticed the difference between the scientific explanation and the phenomena as experienced by the human eye. He did not try to explain this, but rather collected and presented data, conducting experiments on the interplay of light and dark. His work was rejected as 'unscientific' by physicists but his color wheel is still used by artists today. - Summary by Lynne Thompson

Chapters (42)

1Translator's Preface and Preface to the First Edition

1744

2Introduction

971

3Part I - Physiological Colours Section 1 - Effects of Light and Dark on the Eye

312

4Section II - Effects of Black and White Objects on the Eye

812

5Section III - Grey Surfaces and Objects; Section IV - Dazzling Colourless Objects

559

6Section V - Coloured Objects

819

7Section VI - Coloured Shadows

763

8Section VII - Faint Lights; Section VIII - Subjective Halos

535

9Pathological Colours - Appendix

855

10Part 2 - Physical Colours - Section IX - Diotropical Colours

379

11Section X - Diotropical Colours of the First Class

1135

12Section XI - Diotropical Colours of the Second Class - Refraction

490

13Subjective Experiments - Section XII - Refraction Without the Appearance of Colour; Section XIII - Conditions of the Appearance of Colour

433

14Section XIV - Conditions Under Which the Appearance of Colour Increases

323

15Section XV - Explanation of the Foregoing Phenomena

721

16Section XVI - Decrease of the Appearance of Colour; Section XVII - Grey Objects Displaced by Refraction

413

17Section XVIII - Coloured Objects Displaced by Refraction

1190

18Section XIX - Achromatism and Hyperchromatism; Section XX - Advantages of Subjective Experiments. - Transition to the Objective

662

19Objective Experiments - Section XXI - Refraction Without the Appearance of Colour; Section XXII - Conditions of the Appearance of Colour

542

20Section XXIII - Conditions of the Increase of Colour; Section XXIV - Explanation of the Foregoing Phenomena

507

21Section XXV - Decrease of the Appearance of Colour; Section XXVI - Grey Objects ; Section XXVII - Coloured Objects; Section XXVIII - Achromatism and Hyperchromatism

674

22Section XXIX - Combination of Subjective and Objective Experiments; Section XXX - Transition

504

23Section XXXI - Catatropical Colours

671

24Section XXXII - Paroptical Colours

1042

25Section XXXIII - Epoptical Colours

1799

26Part III - Chemical Colours - Section XXXIV - Chemical Contrast

205

27Section XXXV - White; Section XXXVI - Black; Section XXXVII - First Excitation of Colour

623

28Section XXXVIII - Augmentation of Colour; Section XXXIX - Culmination; Section XL - Fluctuation; Section XLI - Passage Through the Whole Scale

565

29Section XLII - Inversion; Section XLIII - Fixation; Section XLIV - Intermixture, Real; Section XLV - Intermixture, Apparent

659

30Section XLVI - Communication, Actual; Section XLVII - Communication, Apparent

506

31Section XLVIII - Extraction; Section XLIX - Nomenclature

761

32Section L - Minerals; Section LI - Plants

585

33Section LII - Worms, Insects, Fishes; Section LIII - Birds

751

34Section LIV - Mammalia and Human Beings

932

35Section LV - Physical and Chemical Effects of the Transmission of Light Through Coloured Mediums; Section LVI - Chemical Effect in Dioptrical Achromatism;

479

36Part IV - General Characteristics

1090

37Part V - Relation to Other Pursuits

1804

38Part VI - Effect of Colour With Reference to Moral Associations; Yellow; Red-Yellow; Yellow-Red; Blue; Red-Blue; Red; Green

1095

39Completeness and Harmony; Yellow and Blue; Yellow and Red; Blue and Red; Yellow-Red and Blue-Red; Combinations Non-Characteristic; Relations of the Combinations to Light and Dark; Considerations Derived from the Evidence of Experience and History

1160

40Aesthetic Influence; Chiaro-Scuro; Tendency to Colour; Keeping; Colour in General Nature; Characteristic Colouring

887

41Harmonious Colouring; Genuine Tone; False Tone; Weak Colouring; The Motley; Dread of Theory; Ultimate Aim; Grounds; Pigments

790

42Allegorical, Symbolic, Mystical Application of Color; Concluding Observations

536

Theory of Colours

About this book

Chapters (42)

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