The Elements of Colour - Johannes Itten

This book was recommended by my TAOP tutor as I mentioned that I found some aspects of the topic of colour somewhat confusing. I found the book both useful and interesting, in that it explains in rather more detail than the course notes the use of colour in pictures. There is a lot here of interest for photographers, even though the book is directed mainly at painters.

Some of the main points that I picked up from the book are listed below.

1. I was interested in his observations of the effects of juxtaposition of bright colours on perception. This accounts for the photographic impact of certain colour combinations which are not complementary pairs, e.g. red on black, blue on white, yellow on blue.

2. His explanation that contrast of hues is virtually lost for diluted or darkened colours was something I had not considered.

3. The distinction he makes between "corporeal" colours (e.g. printed photographs) and "prismatic" colours (e.g. projected images) clarified for me the reason for the two colour wheels in the TAOP notes.

4. The theory that pairs or larger groups of colours are harmonious if they would produce grey if mixed together seems to be based on empirical observation. His observation that such juxtapositions maximize the vibrancy of each of the colours I can understand. One of the points that confused me during the colour section of TAOP was that I did not find complementary colours particularly "harmonious". I did not find violet and yellow more "harmonious" than blue and yellow. Indeed, the author makes the point that contrast of hues increases the further away around the colour circle that two hues are located. This makes more sense to me than saying complementary colours are "harmonious".

5. I read with some scepticism his comments on Form and Colour, which suggested that certain simple shapes in pictures convey impressions which are similar to the effect of colours. Hence, use of a corresponding colour and shape in an image can strengthen an impression. for example, painting a square shape bright red enhances the expression of its stability/groundedness.

6. His observations on colour expression were interesting, and seemed to ring true even though these were very subjective. I assume that the advertising industry has developed such ideas considerably since the publication of this book.