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, Jimi Hendrix, Romain Dorez

Jimi Hendrix

Romain Dorez

Painting - 101 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.8 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

$952

Painting, American road, JonOne

American road

JonOne

Painting - 82 x 65 x 3 cm Painting - 32.3 x 25.6 x 1.2 inch

$14,881

Painting, Clear skies, JonOne

Clear skies

JonOne

Painting - 112 x 115 x 3 cm Painting - 44.1 x 45.3 x 1.2 inch

$30,953

Painting, Summer, JonOne

Summer

JonOne

Painting - 87 x 59 x 2 cm Painting - 34.3 x 23.2 x 0.8 inch

$14,881

Painting, Tag n°2310, Saname

Tag n°2310

Saname

Painting - 110 x 215 x 0.2 cm Painting - 43.3 x 84.6 x 0.1 inch

$1,786

Painting, Trace n°2401, Saname

Trace n°2401

Saname

Painting - 100 x 85 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 33.5 x 0.8 inch

$1,548

Painting, Impulse N°16, Dam Domido

Impulse N°16

Dam Domido

Painting - 30 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

$774

Painting, Yellow graff, Dam Domido

Yellow graff

Dam Domido

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

$667

Painting, Playground, Marta Zawadzka

Playground

Marta Zawadzka

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

$2,976

Print, Flowarh$, Mr Brainwash

Flowarh$

Mr Brainwash

Print - 62 x 62 x 0.05 cm Print - 24.4 x 24.4 x 0 inch

$4,643

Painting, Pluto, Rico Sab

Pluto

Rico Sab

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

$345

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

$345

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

$345

Painting, Street Love, Aiiroh

Street Love

Aiiroh

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

$16,667

Painting, sans titre, Medra

sans titre

Medra

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

$2,262 $1,810

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

$2,310

Painting, Bang, Shokkobo Popart

Bang

Shokkobo Popart

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

$1,238

Painting, Wanted, Patricia Gadisseur

Wanted

Patricia Gadisseur

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

$1,786

Painting, BB Icon, Mr Brainwash

BB Icon

Mr Brainwash

Painting - 110 x 92 x 0.2 cm Painting - 43.3 x 36.2 x 0.1 inch

$19,644

Painting, Sunygital, Reyes

Sunygital

Reyes

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

$810

Painting, Street Abstraction, Reyes

Street Abstraction

Reyes

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

$810

Painting, Original Chrome, Reyes

Original Chrome

Reyes

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

$798 $718

Painting, Ghost city, Reyes

Ghost city

Reyes

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

$821

Painting, Paysage tagué, Zafi

Paysage tagué

Zafi

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

$2,143

Painting, Artists Nights, 2flui

Artists Nights

2flui

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

$3,572

Painting, Chuata, Patopalomo

Chuata

Patopalomo

Painting - 58 x 39 x 0.5 cm Painting - 22.8 x 15.4 x 0.2 inch

$774

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

$5,476

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

$321

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

$1,452 $1,017

Painting, Nuit blanche, Zokatos

Nuit blanche

Zokatos

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

$4,048

Painting, Nuit blanche, Zokatos

Nuit blanche

Zokatos

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

$4,048

Painting, Happy potes bonheur, MAM

Happy potes bonheur

MAM

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1 inch

$2,262

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

$1,333

Fine Art Drawings, Chanoir x Dollar n°7, Chanoir

Chanoir x Dollar n°7

Chanoir

Fine Art Drawings - 6.6 x 15.6 x 0.001 cm Fine Art Drawings - 2.6 x 6.1 x 0 inch

$595

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

$4,167

Print, Sans titre, Piotre

Sans titre

Piotre

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

$177

Painting, Tag n°2308, Saname

Tag n°2308

Saname

Painting - 107 x 207 x 0.2 cm Painting - 42.1 x 81.5 x 0.1 inch

$1,667

Painting, Tag n°2304, Saname

Tag n°2304

Saname

Painting - 107 x 146 x 0.2 cm Painting - 42.1 x 57.5 x 0.1 inch

$1,191

Painting, Tag n°2303, Saname

Tag n°2303

Saname

Painting - 107 x 175 x 0.2 cm Painting - 42.1 x 68.9 x 0.1 inch

$1,548

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

$536

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

$321

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

$321

Painting, Imagine, Rico Sab

Imagine

Rico Sab

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

$321

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

$321

Print, Camo XL-4C-M2, Invader

Camo XL-4C-M2

Invader

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

$21,429

Painting, Zone, Speedy Graphito

Zone

Speedy Graphito

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

$23,572

Painting, Fish n°2311, Saname

Fish n°2311

Saname

Painting - 120 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$952

Painting, Sans titre 112, Saname

Sans titre 112

Saname

Painting - 144 x 107 cm Painting - 56.7 x 42.1 inch

$1,191

Painting, Sans titre 105, Saname

Sans titre 105

Saname

Painting - 40 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

$1,071

Painting, Tag 2308, Saname

Tag 2308

Saname

Painting - 107 x 217 cm Painting - 42.1 x 85.4 inch

$1,964

Painting, Sans titre, Nasty

Sans titre

Nasty

Painting - 36 x 75 x 1 cm Painting - 14.2 x 29.5 x 0.4 inch

$3,572 $3,214

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

$15,120

Painting, Sadako, La Pointe

Sadako

La Pointe

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

$1,429

Painting, Perroquets, Sabrina Viola

Perroquets

Sabrina Viola

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

$5,000

Painting, Trigonometry, M.Chat

Trigonometry

M.Chat

Painting - 92 x 73 x 5 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28.7 x 2 inch

$7,381

Painting, Yellow, Muriel Deumie

Yellow

Muriel Deumie

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

$691

Print, Amathe, Shake

Amathe

Shake

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

$774

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