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? 

Read more
Painting, Rave #16, Tadas Zaicikas

Rave #16

Tadas Zaicikas

Painting - 116.8 x 55.9 x 1.8 cm Painting - 46 x 22 x 0.7 inch

$8,995

Painting, Jack Sparrow, 2Kyff

Jack Sparrow

2Kyff

Painting - 100 x 81 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch

$1,066

Painting, Jim Morrison, 2Kyff

Jim Morrison

2Kyff

Painting - 100 x 81 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch

$1,066

Painting, Jimi Hendrix, 2Kyff

Jimi Hendrix

2Kyff

Painting - 100 x 81 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch

$1,054

Painting, Blue Glitter, Ninu

Blue Glitter

Ninu

Painting - 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting - 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

$536

Painting, Regard, Disek

Regard

Disek

Painting - 65 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,131

Painting, Cloud 1, Shong

Cloud 1

Shong

Painting - 92 x 73 x 2 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,191

Painting, Untitled, Shong

Untitled

Shong

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

$1,429

Painting, Panther, Jo Di Bona

Panther

Jo Di Bona

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

$8,215

Painting, Street art 3, Mr Garcia

Street art 3

Mr Garcia

Painting - 41 x 33 x 2 cm Painting - 16.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

$238

Painting, Bullit, Cédric Lopez

Bullit

Cédric Lopez

Painting - 60.5 x 81 x 3 cm Painting - 23.8 x 31.9 x 1.2 inch

$1,571

Painting, Balade, Loha

Balade

Loha

Painting - 29 x 21 x 1 cm Painting - 11.4 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

$119

Painting, Maradona, Dr. Love

Maradona

Dr. Love

Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$107

Painting, Fishes, Hayvon

Fishes

Hayvon

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$226

Painting, Flinstones, Art By Son

Flinstones

Art By Son

Painting - 120 x 120 x 5 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 2 inch

$11,310

Painting, Complices, Nicolas Denigot

Complices

Nicolas Denigot

Painting - 146 x 114 x 2 cm Painting - 57.5 x 44.9 x 0.8 inch

$3,929

Painting, Totem, Nicolas Denigot

Totem

Nicolas Denigot

Painting - 146 x 114 x 2.5 cm Painting - 57.5 x 44.9 x 1 inch

$4,167

Painting, Koeur de Phoenix, M. Koeur

Koeur de Phoenix

M. Koeur

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

$2,976

Painting, Notre Dame de Paris, PyB

Notre Dame de Paris

PyB

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$226

Painting, Madiba, Véronique Baleste

Madiba

Véronique Baleste

Painting - 80 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

$1,500

Painting, Mickey mouse Warhol, PyB

Mickey mouse Warhol

PyB

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$226

Painting, Free birds, Sven

Free birds

Sven

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

$5,357

Painting, Vamos, Futé

Vamos

Futé

Painting - 60 x 60 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

$1,429

Painting, Vandal, Futé

Vandal

Futé

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

$2,619

Painting, Skull Taipei, Spaco

Skull Taipei

Spaco

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

$333

Painting, M Chedid, Spaco

M Chedid

Spaco

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

$333

Painting, Prejudice, Keny

Prejudice

Keny

Painting - 54 x 73 x 2.5 cm Painting - 21.3 x 28.7 x 1 inch

$464

Painting, Tags, Futé

Tags

Futé

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

$2,381

Painting, Notre Dame de Paris, PyB

Notre Dame de Paris

PyB

Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

$143

Painting, Babar, Romain Dorez

Babar

Romain Dorez

Painting - 80 x 68 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 26.8 x 0.8 inch

$536

Painting, James Bond, Socrate

James Bond

Socrate

Painting - 60 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

$2,738

Painting, Françoise Hardy, PyB

Françoise Hardy

PyB

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$226

Painting, David Bowie, PyB

David Bowie

PyB

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$226

Painting, Salvador dali, PyB

Salvador dali

PyB

Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

$143

Painting, Live your Dream, MrKas

Live your Dream

MrKas

Painting - 114 x 107 x 0.3 cm Painting - 44.9 x 42.1 x 0.1 inch

$1,429

Painting, Tanya, Disek

Tanya

Disek

Painting - 92 x 73 x 2.5 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28.7 x 1 inch

$1,429

Painting, La grimace, Disek

La grimace

Disek

Painting - 92 x 73 x 2.5 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28.7 x 1 inch

$1,429

Painting, Pink Panther, Mosko

Pink Panther

Mosko

Painting - 40 x 38 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15 x 1.6 inch

$1,012

Painting, Gainsbourg colors, PyB

Gainsbourg colors

PyB

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$226

Painting, Sun Colors, Lasveguix

Sun Colors

Lasveguix

Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.02 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$417

Painting, Coco Chanel, Lasveguix

Coco Chanel

Lasveguix

Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.02 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$417

Painting, Splash, Florence Fabris

Splash

Florence Fabris

Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

$357

Painting, Splash, Florence Fabris

Splash

Florence Fabris

Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

$536

Painting, Unstoppable, Gardani Art

Unstoppable

Gardani Art

Painting - 99.1 x 119.4 x 3.8 cm Painting - 39 x 47 x 1.5 inch

$3,800

Painting, Bleu, Untitled (14), JonOne

Bleu, Untitled (14)

JonOne

Painting - 69.7 x 50 x 0.3 cm Painting - 27.4 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

$5,238

Painting, Powerful, Muriel Deumie

Powerful

Muriel Deumie

Painting - 50 x 100 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

$1,071 $964

Print, Sans titre, Momies

Sans titre

Momies

Print - 21 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 8.3 x 11.6 x 0 inch

$107

Print, Sans titre, Momies

Sans titre

Momies

Print - 21 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 8.3 x 11.6 x 0 inch

$107

Painting, Fragile, MC Art

Fragile

MC Art

Painting - 96 x 66 x 5 cm Painting - 37.8 x 26 x 2 inch

$1,429

Painting, The Invader Colors, Spaco

The Invader Colors

Spaco

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$214

Painting, Road Trip, Nicolas Clézio

Road Trip

Nicolas Clézio

Painting - 92 x 73 x 2.5 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28.7 x 1 inch

$3,095

Painting, Le gaulois, Cumbone

Le gaulois

Cumbone

Painting - 100 x 70 x 1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch

$583

Sculpture, Dog, Spaco

Dog

Spaco

Sculpture - 15 x 25 x 3 cm Sculpture - 5.9 x 9.8 x 1.2 inch

$298

20/38