Colored artworks

The work of color is central in any artistic work. It is even one of the first tools of the artist. It is difficult to imagine a work that would exist without the working of color - even if it is the absence of color that the artist chooses to present. 

Through the ages and artistic movements, the use and meaning attributed to color evolves, but the essence of color remains the same. Every artist must master the properties of color in order to control his composition. In the restoration of paintings, color even becomes a science, because it is necessary to know the different molecules to find the colors and mixtures originally used by the artist. 

In the history of art, the importance of color fluctuates according to periods and geographical areas. During the Italian Renaissance, for example, there was a debate (called Paragone) between the authority of color versus drawing: according to the schools, it is the color, and not the line, that creates the emotion and visual power of a work of art. The colors thus take on an immense importance, and assume certain meanings: white symbolizes purity for example, and blue (systematically used to clothe the Virgin Mary) is associated with divinity. These symbols are not thought of randomly: the purple for example, is used since the Byzantine era to signify the highest rank of royalty. Unlike ochre, the purple pigment came from a specific shell, and was extremely difficult - and therefore rare, and expensive - to obtain.

More generally, colors can be divided into three categories: warm, cool, and neutral. As their name implies, these classes of colors give off an atmosphere that the painter can use to influence the emotion of his work. Baroque art, for example, manipulates the contrasts between warm and cold colors to capture the power of bodies. The play of light is exalted by the effects of color. For a long time, the traditional Western school of painting required painters to reproduce the colors of the environment around them. It was the Impressionists, in the 19th century, who explored other ways of seeing - and therefore of transcribing on canvas - their chromatic environment. By avoiding complex mixtures and painting spontaneously, in the open air, the Impressionists reinvented the use of color to reproduce reality.

It was not until abstract and subjective painting that art devoted itself to color as a subject. Mark Rothko, precursor of the Colorfield Painting movement and of abstract expressionism, sees in his paintings a living organism whose color is human and whose format is transcendent. Piet Mondrian, on the other hand, sought in his paintings to approach the very essence of nature through the purity of primary colors, to achieve abstraction. The founder of the Russian avant-garde movement of Suprematism, Kasimir Malevich, will disturb the senses of everyone with his work "White square on white background", in which the color is painted only for itself. Contemporary art, photography, collage, or pop art also use in their respective ways the resources of color, exploring indefinitely all its pluralities. As Picasso said, "When I have no blue, I use red." 

Artsper writes art in color: discover below a great selection of works that honor color and its properties. What better way to brighten up an interior? 

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Painting, Iron pearl, Cédric Lopez

Iron pearl

Cédric Lopez

Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€500

Painting, Pluto, Rico Sab

Pluto

Rico Sab

Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€290

Painting, Yeah...be happy, Rico Sab

Yeah...be happy

Rico Sab

Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€290

Painting, Happy yeah, Rico Sab

Happy yeah

Rico Sab

Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€290

Painting, Musik Snoop, Rico Sab

Musik Snoop

Rico Sab

Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€290

Painting, Street Love, Aiiroh

Street Love

Aiiroh

Painting - 150 x 150 x 3 cm Painting - 59.1 x 59.1 x 1.2 inch

€14,000

Painting, sans titre, Medra

sans titre

Medra

Painting - 130 x 97 x 2 cm Painting - 51.2 x 38.2 x 0.8 inch

€1,900

Painting, Boom!, Shokkobo Popart

Boom!

Shokkobo Popart

Painting - 80 x 80 x 1.9 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.7 inch

€1,940

Painting, Bang, Shokkobo Popart

Bang

Shokkobo Popart

Painting - 54 x 60 x 10 cm Painting - 21.3 x 23.6 x 3.9 inch

€1,040

Painting, Nuit blanche, Zokatos

Nuit blanche

Zokatos

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

€3,400

Painting, Nuit blanche, Zokatos

Nuit blanche

Zokatos

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

€3,400

Painting, Blablabla, Jéko

Blablabla

Jéko

Painting - 65 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Painting, Sunygital, Reyes

Sunygital

Reyes

Painting - 110 x 77 x 0.1 cm Painting - 43.3 x 30.3 x 0 inch

€680 €612

Painting, Street Abstraction, Reyes

Street Abstraction

Reyes

Painting - 70 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€680 €612

Painting, Original Chrome, Reyes

Original Chrome

Reyes

Painting - 70 x 70 x 4 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 x 1.6 inch

€670

Painting, Ghost city, Reyes

Ghost city

Reyes

Painting - 70 x 70 x 4 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 x 1.6 inch

€690 €621

Painting, Paysage tagué, Zafi

Paysage tagué

Zafi

Painting - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,800

Painting, Gilda, Patricia Gadisseur

Gilda

Patricia Gadisseur

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1 inch

€900

Painting, People, Patricia Gadisseur

People

Patricia Gadisseur

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1 inch

€900

Painting, Fight the power, Keny

Fight the power

Keny

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

€800

Painting, Mister Love, Rico Sab

Mister Love

Rico Sab

Painting - 130 x 195 x 2.5 cm Painting - 51.2 x 76.8 x 1 inch

€2,200

Painting, Simple Days, Rico Sab

Simple Days

Rico Sab

Painting - 130 x 195 x 2.5 cm Painting - 51.2 x 76.8 x 1 inch

€2,200

Painting, Wonder woman, Rico Sab

Wonder woman

Rico Sab

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€270

Painting, Croco car, Seb Paul Michel

Croco car

Seb Paul Michel

Painting - 89 x 116 x 2 cm Painting - 35 x 45.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,220

Painting, Zone, Speedy Graphito

Zone

Speedy Graphito

Painting - 100 x 81 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 1.2 inch

€19,800

Painting, Abus de couleurs, MAM

Abus de couleurs

MAM

Painting - 60 x 60 x 4 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch

€1,120

Painting, Look at, Cédric Lopez

Look at

Cédric Lopez

Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€500

Painting, La Nuit Commence, Nebay

La Nuit Commence

Nebay

Painting - 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

€3,500

Print, Amathe, Shake

Amathe

Shake

Print - 80 x 60 x 0.1 cm Print - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0 inch

€650

Print, Sans titre, Piotre

Sans titre

Piotre

Print - 70 x 50 x 1 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€149

Painting, Je nage, Jéko

Je nage

Jéko

Painting - 150 x 150 x 0.5 cm Painting - 59.1 x 59.1 x 0.2 inch

€4,600

Print, Flowarh$, Mr Brainwash

Flowarh$

Mr Brainwash

Print - 61 x 61 x 5.1 cm Print - 24 x 24 x 2 inch

€3,459

Painting, Mario golf, Rico Sab

Mario golf

Rico Sab

Painting - 80 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€450

Painting, Yo mario, Rico Sab

Yo mario

Rico Sab

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€270

Painting, So kult, Rico Sab

So kult

Rico Sab

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€270

Painting, Hello betty, Rico Sab

Hello betty

Rico Sab

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€270

Print, Camo XL-4C-M2, Invader

Camo XL-4C-M2

Invader

Print - 74 x 101 cm Print - 29.1 x 39.8 inch

€18,000

Painting, Wanted, Patricia Gadisseur

Wanted

Patricia Gadisseur

Painting - 100 x 150 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 59.1 x 1.2 inch

€1,500

Painting, Panda art, Vincent Bardou

Panda art

Vincent Bardou

Painting - 100 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

€2,800

Painting, BLUE FIRE, L'Atlas

BLUE FIRE

L'Atlas

Painting - 120 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

€12,700

Painting, Sadako, La Pointe

Sadako

La Pointe

Painting - 100 x 73 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 28.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,200

Painting, Perroquets, Sabrina Viola

Perroquets

Sabrina Viola

Painting - 120 x 150 x 4 cm Painting - 47.2 x 59.1 x 1.6 inch

€4,200

Painting, Yellow, Muriel Deumie

Yellow

Muriel Deumie

Painting - 60 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€580

Painting, I love you!, Mr Brainwash

I love you!

Mr Brainwash

Painting - 61 x 61 x 1 cm Painting - 24 x 24 x 0.4 inch

€11,000

Painting, Goldorak, Tarek

Goldorak

Tarek

Painting - 55 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 21.7 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

€950

Painting, Africa, Tarek

Africa

Tarek

Painting - 50 x 20 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 7.9 x 1.2 inch

€380

Print, Ketaye, Shake

Ketaye

Shake

Print - 80 x 60 x 0.1 cm Print - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0 inch

€650

Painting, Maniac's Struggle 4, Skwak

Maniac's Struggle 4

Skwak

Painting - 20.32 x 29.21 x 0.1 cm Painting - 8 x 11.5 x 0 inch

€1,200

Print, Serigraphie I, Piotre

Serigraphie I

Piotre

Print - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€450

Painting, Flux, Muriel Deumie

Flux

Muriel Deumie

Painting - 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

€1,300

Painting, Sauvage, Muriel Deumie

Sauvage

Muriel Deumie

Painting - 100 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

€1,490

Painting, Full Colors, Zenoy

Full Colors

Zenoy

Painting - 96 x 78 x 1 cm Painting - 37.8 x 30.7 x 0.4 inch

€3,500

Painting, Basketeam, Rico Sab

Basketeam

Rico Sab

Painting - 130 x 97 x 1.8 cm Painting - 51.2 x 38.2 x 0.7 inch

€1,350

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