The Science of Color and Art

Catalog description

What is the scientific basis of color? What are the origins of different pigments and the roles they play in nature, in our food and in the palettes of artists across history? Color is a vital part of our lives. The bright red of blood, the shades of green in leaves, the variety of flowers, plants and bird plumage (not to mention carrots, beet or M&Ms!) are examples of color in nature or on our plates. But it is in the breadth and depth of art across the ages that color sees a most significant impact on human culture. The availability of different pigments and the choice of colors through history has influenced both the beauty of the work and the direction of art itself. Using principles of chemistry and physics we will connect molecular structure to absorption properties and color. Students will explore the pigments of nature, those in our food and especially investigate the colors that have been used in art from the cave paintings of early humans through antiquity and the Renaissance to modernity. Through lectures, visits to the local museums, fieldwork, and individual research, students will explore how science has influenced art and how art has driven developments in science. This course will be offered in January-Term 2026.