Abstract
Colour isn’t just something we see in art—it’s something we feel. Artists have been using colour for ages to show emotions, set the mood, and tell deeper stories without even needing words. Think about the warm glow of a sunset or the calm of a quiet blue sky—colour connects with us in a way that goes straight to the heart.
Warm colours like red, orange, and yellow usually give off energy, excitement, or passion. On the flip side, cooler shades like blue, green, and purple bring a sense of calm, peace, or even sadness. The same colour can mean different things depending on how it’s used. Red, for example, can feel romantic in one painting and dangerous in another.
Some artists are especially good at using colour to show emotion. Picasso’s Blue Period is full of sadness and loneliness. Van Gogh’s bright yellows in his Sunflowers feel full of life and hope, even though he was going through a rough time. Rothko used blocks of colour to make you feel things you can’t quite put into words. Monet’s soft greens and blues are super calming, while Munch’s The Scream uses fiery reds and oranges to ramp up the anxiety and fear.
But here’s something interesting—our emotions don’t just react to colour; they change how we see it. Research shows that when people feel down or depressed, they have a harder time telling colours apart, especially blues and yellows. So, the way we feel can change how we see the world around us.
At the end of the day, when we understand how colour works emotionally, we start to connect with art in a whole new way. It’s not just about what we see—it’s about what we feel.
REFERENCES
- Colour Psychology in Art: How Colour Impacts Mood https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=112035
- (PDF) Studying the Psychology of Colour in Art: The Effects on Viewer Emotion and Perception https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384576277_Studying_the_Psychology_of_Colour_in_Art_The_Effects_on_Viewer_Emotion_and_Perception
- Public Access and Use of Health Research: An Exploratory Study of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy Using Interviews and Surveys of Health Personnel – PMChttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3236667/
- Meaning and Effects of Colours: A Psychological Perspectivehttps://www.colorpsychology.org
- Can Color Influence Your Mood and Behavior? Here's What to Know https://www.verywellmind.com/color-psychology-2795824
- (PDF) Colour Psychology in Art: How Colour Impacts Mood https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354657351_Colour_Psychology_in_Art_How_Colour_Impacts_Mood
- Color Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide to Healing through Color https://scholistico.com/color-therapy-guide/
- Color Psychology: The Psychological Effects of Colors http://www.arttherapyblog.com/online/color-psychology-psychologica-effects-of-colors/